Neuroscience
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Swimming training (ST) can mitigate functional disorders in neurological diseases, but the effect and mechanism of ST in improving the neurological function of intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) have not been reported. Our study aimed to explore the protective effect of early ST on ICH mice and its relationship with the serine-threonine kinase (Akt)/glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) pathway. Our findings showed that the ICH model mice had poor behavioural manifestations in the Y maze test and open field test compared to the ST group and sham group. ⋯ Furthermore, the Akt kinase inhibitor GSK690693 exacerbated neurological impairment, increased the expression of Iba1, GFAP and Bax/Bcl-2, and reversed the anti-apoptotic effects and anti-glia activation of ST, which was associated with the inhibition of p-Akt/Akt and p-GSK3β/GSK3β expression. These results indicated that the protective role of ST in ICH was mediated via the Akt/GSK3β pathway. In conclusion, ST displayed neuroprotection by inhibiting apoptosis and glial activation in ICH mice by activating the Akt/GSK3β signalling pathway.
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In general, catechins contained in green tea are believed to have positive effects on the human body and mental health. The intake of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a major polyphenol in green tea, is known to be effective for retinal protection; however, whether green tea and/or EGCG affect visual function remains unknown. In the present study, we investigated the effect of green tea and EGCG on visual motion processing by measuring optokinetic responses (OKRs) in young adult and aging mice. ⋯ We found that the OKRs of young and aging mice after green tea intake and after EGCG administration showed higher temporal sensitivity than those of control mice. The visual ability to detect moving objects was enhanced in young and aging mice upon intake of green tea or EGCG. From the above results, the visual motion processing for optokinetic responses by ingesting green tea was enhanced, which may be related to the effect of EGCG.