Effect of Exercise Duration on Klotho and GluN2B Gene Expressions in Hippocampus of Wistar Rats with Moderate Intensity Exercise

Exercise could delay the degeneration process by increasing Klotho, which is an endogen antioxidant. Klotho protects against oxidative damages, regulates hippocampal synaptic plasticity, and enhances GluN2B expression. This study aimed to analyze the effect of 14-day and 8-week moderate-intensity exercise on Klotho and GluN2B mRNA expressions in rat hippocampus. This study was an animal experimental study using Wistar rats that was performed from June to September 2019 at the Central Laboratory, Universitas Padjadjaran, Indonesia. Rats were divided into 4 groups: control (14-day control and 8-week control) and exercise group (14-day exercise and 8-week exercise). The exercise groups ran at a moderate intensity (20m/min) for 30min/day, 5x/week. Hippocampus was then subjected to klotho and GluN2B gene expression analysis. The exercise groups showed a higher Klotho expression, both in 14 days (0.844 +/- 0.124 vs. 1.057 +/- 0.013) and 8 weeks (0.897 +/- 0.072 vs. 1.380 +/- 0.168) although statistically insignificant (p=0.24). No difference in GluN2B gene expression was observed between control and exercise groups on 14 days (1 +/- 0.09 vs. 1.22 +/- 0.09) and 8 weeks (1.24 +/- 0.03 vs. 1.38 +/- 0.05; p=0.11). In conclusion, 14-day and 8-week moderate-intensity exercise did not alter Klotho and GluN2B expressions in rat hippocampus.