Effect of running wheel training on neurological recovery and the regulation of microglial pyroptosis and polariza-tion in rats with cerebral ischemic injury
TIAN Song-xin
ZHU Hui-yan
LI Chun-li
Abstract：Objective To investigate the effects of running wheel training on motor and neurological function,mi-croglial polarization,and the regulation of pyroptosis-related proteins in rats with cerebral ischemic injury.Methods Thirty adult male SD rats were randomly assigned to three groups(n=10 each):sham-operated group,ischemic injury group,and ischemic injury+running wheel training group.Cerebral ischemia was induced by middle cerebral artery liga-tion.The training group received additional running wheel intervention.After injury,motor and neurological function were assessed by suspension time,Zea-Longa score,and Grip test score.Infarct volume was measured.Western blot was used to detect expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF),NLR family pyrin domain containing 3(NLRP3),cleaved-caspase 3,Gasdermin D,interleukin-1 β(IL-1 β),interleukin-18(IL-18),inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),arginase-1(Arg-1),and interleukin-10(IL-10)in brain tissue.Microglial cells were isolated and analyzed by flow cytometry to determine the proportions of CD86+and CD206+microglia.Results Compared with the sham group,both the ischemic injury group and the running wheel training group showed reduced suspension time,Grip test score,and BDNF levels,while Zea-Longa scores,infarct vol-ume,NLRP3,cleaved-caspase 3,Gasdermin D,IL-1 β,IL-18,proportion of CD86+microglia,iNOS,and TNF-α were significantly increased(all P＜0.05).Expression of Arg-1,IL-10,and proportion of CD206+microglia were significantly decreased(all P＜0.05).Compared with the ischemic injury group,the running wheel training group dem-onstrated increased suspension time,Grip test score,BDNF,CD206+microglia proportion,Arg-1,and IL-10 levels,while Zea-Longa score,infarct volume,NLRP3,cleaved-caspase 3,Gasdermin D,IL-1 β,IL-18,CD86+micro-glia proportion,iNOS,and TNF-α were significantly reduced(all P＜0.05).Conclusion Running wheel training al-leviates neurological deficits and reduces infarct volume in rats with cerebral ischemic injury.These effects are associated with regulation of microglial polarization,suppression of M1-type polarization and pyroptosis,and promotion of M2-type polarization,thereby exerting neuroprotective benefits.
Keywords：running wheel trainingratscerebral ischemic injurymicrogliapyroptosispolarization
Publication Date：2025-10-15
Online Publishing Date：2025-11-28(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：7( 1507-1513 )