Accelerated Fear Extinction by Regular Light-Intensity Exercise: A Possible Role of Hippocampal BDNF-TrkB Signaling

PurposeGrowing concern exists worldwide about stress-related mental disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), often linked to hippocampal dysfunctions. Recognizing this connection, regular light-intensity exercise (LIE)-such as yoga, walking, or slow jogging-may offer a solution. Easily accessible even to vulnerable individuals, LIE has been found to enhance hippocampus-based cognitive functions through the stimulation of neurotrophic factors like brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). A prior study that demonstrated BDNF's role in extinguishing original fear memory further leads us to propose that a consistent LIE training might drive fear extinction learning, offering potential therapeutic benefits through BDNF signaling.MethodsEleven-week-old Wistar rats underwent 4 wk of training under conditions of sedentary, LIE, or moderate-intensity exercise (MOE) after contextual or auditory fear conditioning. Subsequently, fear extinction tests were performed. We then administered intraperitoneal (i.p.) ANA-12, a selective antagonist of tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB), or a vehicle to explore the role of BDNF signaling in exercise-induced fear extinction among the LIE rats. Following the regular exercise training, further fear extinction tests were conducted, and hippocampal protein analysis was performed using Western blotting.ResultsBoth LIE and MOE over 4 wk accelerated hippocampus-associated contextual fear extinction compared with sedentary. In addition, 4 wk of LIE with i.p. administered vehicle increased hippocampal BDNF and TrkB protein levels. In contrast, i.p. ANA-12 administration fully blocked the LIE-enhanced protein levels and its effect on contextual fear extinction.ConclusionsOur findings reveal that LIE regimen promotes fear extinction learning, at least partially tied to hippocampal BDNF-TrkB signaling. This suggests that even regular light exercise could alleviate the excessive fear response in anxiety disorders and PTSD, providing hope for those affected.