The Effect of REM Sleep Deprivation on mTOR Signaling-Induced by Severe Physical Exercise

Abstract

Previous studies indicated that intensity level might be a determining factor in the beneficial or adverse effects of exercise on spatial memory. As intensive exercise appears to deteriorate learning and memory and recent reports have suggested that one-night sleep deprivation improves mood and neurogenesis in depressed patients for at least one day. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of REM sleep deprivation (REM-SD) on memory impairment induced by intense exercise. Animals had undergone an intense protocol (speed: 18 m/min and no tilt for the first week, the duration and treadmill tilt were increased progressively, 10 minutes and five degrees increased in each week) of treadmill for five days a week for five weeks then deprived of sleep for 24 hours using the water-filled multiple platforms. The level of mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) in the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex (PFC) was assessed by Western blotting. Five weeks of intensive exercise and 24h REM-SD were decreased the level of mTOR expression; 24h REM-SD improved intensive exercise-associated decreases in the basal levels of mTOR. The present data suggested that REM-SD might be considered as a compensatory factor for a short time. In addition, increasing in the mTOR level could improve memory impairment-induced by intensive exercise.