Physical exercise prevents behavioral and neurobiological deficits induced by sleep deprivation in rodents through the regulation of BDNF and 5-HT Levels: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Previous evidence shows that Sleep Deprivation (SD) negatively affects behavior and cerebral function. Tissue neurons are compromised at the DNA and RNA level and consequently, disruption of neuronal plasticity results in dysregulation of cognitive functions. Studies show that exercise improves physical conditioning and positively affects sleep, mood and cognition. The effects of exercise on brain and behavior in association with SD remain to be further elucidated. This systematic review and meta-analysis appraised behavior and brain tissue alterations in rodents exercised before SD. Sleep deprivation was commonly induced using the flowerpot method. The partial SD protocol (REM sleep deprivation) was frequent (94.73 %), and the multiple platform method (72 h) was the most used for SD (89.47 %). Treadmill-based physical exercise was common (89.4 %) (4 or 5 times/week, 30-60 min/session). Physical exercise reversed SD-induced anxiety-like and depression-like behaviors. Specifically, BDNF concentrations were increased and 5-HT levels reduced, preventing the deleterious effects of SD. These changes occurred regardless of SD duration, exercise duration, intensity, time of day, brain region, or animal species. This meta-analysis demonstrates that there is sufficient evidence to state that engaging in exercise prior to sleep deprivation (SD) improves behavioral parameters as well as BDNF and 5-HT levels. This study significantly confirms the brain and behavioral impairments caused by SD and describes the beneficial and modulatory effects of physical exercise performed before sleep deprivation.

Keywords: Physical activity. Brain. Cognition. Sleep.