Restorative Benefit Restorative Benefit
of Exercise on of Exercise on Affective DisordersAffective Disorders
Affective DisorderAffective DisorderExerciseExerciseBDNFBDNF
5-HT1A5-HT1A
Affective DisordersAffective Disorders
Depression has a prevalence ranging from 5% to 20%
Current drug treatments are costly, only partly effective and present side-effects limit their therapeutic potential
ExerciseExercise
Exercise increases BDNF in the hippocampus BDNF influences serotonergic system Serotonergic system is intimately linked to depression 5-HT1A receptors are reduced in depressed patients
ObjectivesObjectivesDepressed patientDepressed patient
ExerciseExercise
NeurotrophinsNeurotrophins Serotonergic systemSerotonergic system ??
ImprovementImprovement
MethodsMethods Animal model (Wistar Animal model (Wistar
rats): rats): ExerciseExercise Antidepressant Antidepressant
administrationadministration Biochemical analysis Biochemical analysis Local infusion of TrkB Local infusion of TrkB
receptor blockerreceptor blocker Social defeatSocial defeat Behavioral testsBehavioral tests
Healthy volunteers:Healthy volunteers: Physical and psychological Physical and psychological
evaluationevaluation Aerobic exercise Aerobic exercise PET PET
Experimental ProtocolExperimental Protocol Animal modelAnimal model
Exercise SSRI
treatmentControl
WP1
0 week 3 weeks
BDNF levels in the hippocampusin situ hybridization and western blot
5-HT1A receptor levels in the hippocampusin situ hybridization, IHC and autoradiographic ligand binding
Experimental ProtocolExperimental Protocol Animal modelAnimal model
Exercise SSRI
treatmentControl
WP2
0 week 3 weeks
5-HT1A receptor levels in the hippocampusin situ hybridization, IHC and autoradiographic ligand binding
Intrahippocampal TrkB blocker infusion
Experimental ProtocolExperimental Protocol Animal modelAnimal model
Exercise SSRI
treatmentControl
WP3
Depressive-like behaviorssucrose preference test and Forced Swim Test
0 week 3 weeks1 week 2 weeks
Socially Defeated AnimalModel of depression
BDNF and 5-HT1A receptor levels in the hippocampusin situ hybridization, western blot, IHC and autoradiographic ligand binding
Experimental ProtocolExperimental Protocol Healthy VolunteersHealthy Volunteers
WP4
Physical and Psychological evaluationQuality of life questionnaires: Beck Depression Inventory, Zung Self-rating Depression Scale
5-HT1A receptor levels in the brainPET using [11C]WAY-100635
0 month 12 months6 months
Exercise ADIDASADIDAS
ADIDASADIDAS
Innovative Elements Innovative Elements
Validation of an alternative, cost-Validation of an alternative, cost-
effective therapeutic treatment effective therapeutic treatment
for a major health and for a major health and
socioeconomic burdensocioeconomic burden The proposedThe proposed research extends research extends
from an animal model (from an animal model (benchbench) to ) to
human subjects (human subjects (proof of proof of
principleprinciple))
International Consortium International Consortium
Anima Sana in Corpore Anima Sana in Corpore Sano Sano
WP4WP4
WP4WP4
WP3WP3WP3WP3WP3WP3WP1WP1WP1WP1
WP1WP1WP2WP2
ELENI ELENI WP2WP2