Effect of Continuous Aerobic Exercise on Nerve Growth Factor in Diabetic Rats

Background: Neurogenesis is the process by which nervous system cells, known as neurons, are produced by neural stem cells. Objectives: This survey aimed to evaluate the effect of long-term aerobic activity on the nerve growth factor (NGF) in diabetic rats. Methods: We divided 84 rats into four groups: (1) healthy control (HC), (2) healthy practice (HP), (3) diabetic control (DC), and (4) diabetic practice (DP). They practiced for 12 weeks in three sessions per week. Results: Based on the outcome of the survey, there was no difference in the level of NGF after one step of exercise (P = 0.860), but there was a significant difference in other steps of practice (P = 0.001). Also, there was a significant difference in all steps (4th, 8th and 12th weeks of practice) (P = 0.001), while the eighth weeks and 12th weeks did not differ significantly (P = 0.198). Conclusions: In the whole steps (all weeks of practice), the level of NGF was lower in the healthy control and diabetic control groups than in the control practice and diabetic practice groups. In other words, the higher incidence of diabetes mellitus, and the more time gone (from 4th to 8th and then 12th week), the higher decrease in the level of NGF occurred, so that continuous aerobic exercise could increases the NGF levels.