the effect of swim training combined with minocycline administration following childhood infection on spatial memory levels and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of NMRI rats

Bakhtyari, Mohammad; Naghibi, Saeed; Shariatzadeh Joneydi, Mohammad; Fatahian, Alireza

doi:10.22070/daneshmed.2026.21241.1660

the effect of swim training combined with minocycline administration following childhood infection on spatial memory levels and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of NMRI rats

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Mohammad Bakhtyari ¹

Saeed naghibi ²

mohammad shariatzadeh joneydi ³

alireza fatahian ⁴

¹ Department of Sports Physiology, Payame Noor University, Karaj, Alborz, Iran

² Department of Exercise Physiology, Payam Noor University of Karaj, Alborz, Iran.

³ Associate Professor, Department of Physical Activity and Health, Physical Education and Sport Sciences Research Institute, Iran

⁴ Department of Nutrition and Movement Sciences, School for Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands

10.22070/daneshmed.2026.21241.1660

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a combination of swimming training and minocycline administration after childhood infection on spatial memory and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of NMRI mice.
Materials and Methods: Fifty male and female mice (weight 22–25 g, age 80–90 days) were selected. After mating and birth, the newborn mice were separated from their mothers at 21 days of age and housed in groups of 10. At 28 days of age, the animals were divided into 5 groups. From 28 to 56 days of age, the experimental groups received swimming training 5 days a week for 4 weeks (2 days of rest). From 28 to 42 days of age, one group received minocycline (20 mg/kg). Spatial memory was measured by Morris water maze test and BDNF level was measured by ELISA (Abcam kit). Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance in SPSS 26. (P<0.05)
Results: The results showed that the combination of swimming and minocycline significantly increased spatial memory and BDNF level in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. (P<0.05) The combination group showed the best performance.
Conclusion: Swimming training combined with minocycline after childhood infection has a positive and significant effect on improving spatial memory and increasing BDNF, which indicates the potential of this intervention in repairing cognitive damage caused by early infections. These findings can be a basis for the development of non-pharmacological and combined strategies in neuroplasticity after childhood infections

Keywords

Swim training

Minocycline

Childhood infection

Spatial memory level

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor level

Hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of rats

Subjects