BMP signaling mediates effects of exercise on hippocampal neurogenesis and cognition in mice.

Exposure to exercise or to environmental enrichment increases the generation of new neurons in the adult hippocampus and promotes certain kinds of learning and memory. While the precise role of neurogenesis in cognition has been debated intensely, comparatively few studies have addressed the mechani...

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Main Authors: Kevin T Gobeske, Sunit Das, Michael A Bonaguidi, Craig Weiss, Jelena Radulovic, John F Disterhoft, John A Kessler
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2009-10-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0007506&type=printable
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author Kevin T Gobeske
Sunit Das
Michael A Bonaguidi
Craig Weiss
Jelena Radulovic
John F Disterhoft
John A Kessler
author_facet Kevin T Gobeske
Sunit Das
Michael A Bonaguidi
Craig Weiss
Jelena Radulovic
John F Disterhoft
John A Kessler
author_sort Kevin T Gobeske
collection DOAJ
description Exposure to exercise or to environmental enrichment increases the generation of new neurons in the adult hippocampus and promotes certain kinds of learning and memory. While the precise role of neurogenesis in cognition has been debated intensely, comparatively few studies have addressed the mechanisms linking environmental exposures to cellular and behavioral outcomes. Here we show that bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling mediates the effects of exercise on neurogenesis and cognition in the adult hippocampus. Elective exercise reduces levels of hippocampal BMP signaling before and during its promotion of neurogenesis and learning. Transgenic mice with decreased BMP signaling or wild type mice infused with a BMP inhibitor both exhibit remarkable gains in hippocampal cognitive performance and neurogenesis, mirroring the effects of exercise. Conversely, transgenic mice with increased BMP signaling have diminished hippocampal neurogenesis and impaired cognition. Exercise exposure does not rescue these deficits, suggesting that reduced BMP signaling is required for environmental effects on neurogenesis and learning. Together, these observations show that BMP signaling is a fundamental mechanism linking environmental exposure with changes in cognitive function and cellular properties in the hippocampus.
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spelling doaj-art-0e52294ec51d4b37a42a60e409ad8a2c2025-08-20T03:07:41ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032009-10-01410e750610.1371/journal.pone.0007506BMP signaling mediates effects of exercise on hippocampal neurogenesis and cognition in mice.Kevin T GobeskeSunit DasMichael A BonaguidiCraig WeissJelena RadulovicJohn F DisterhoftJohn A KesslerExposure to exercise or to environmental enrichment increases the generation of new neurons in the adult hippocampus and promotes certain kinds of learning and memory. While the precise role of neurogenesis in cognition has been debated intensely, comparatively few studies have addressed the mechanisms linking environmental exposures to cellular and behavioral outcomes. Here we show that bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling mediates the effects of exercise on neurogenesis and cognition in the adult hippocampus. Elective exercise reduces levels of hippocampal BMP signaling before and during its promotion of neurogenesis and learning. Transgenic mice with decreased BMP signaling or wild type mice infused with a BMP inhibitor both exhibit remarkable gains in hippocampal cognitive performance and neurogenesis, mirroring the effects of exercise. Conversely, transgenic mice with increased BMP signaling have diminished hippocampal neurogenesis and impaired cognition. Exercise exposure does not rescue these deficits, suggesting that reduced BMP signaling is required for environmental effects on neurogenesis and learning. Together, these observations show that BMP signaling is a fundamental mechanism linking environmental exposure with changes in cognitive function and cellular properties in the hippocampus.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0007506&type=printable
spellingShingle Kevin T Gobeske
Sunit Das
Michael A Bonaguidi
Craig Weiss
Jelena Radulovic
John F Disterhoft
John A Kessler
BMP signaling mediates effects of exercise on hippocampal neurogenesis and cognition in mice.
PLoS ONE
title BMP signaling mediates effects of exercise on hippocampal neurogenesis and cognition in mice.
title_full BMP signaling mediates effects of exercise on hippocampal neurogenesis and cognition in mice.
title_fullStr BMP signaling mediates effects of exercise on hippocampal neurogenesis and cognition in mice.
title_full_unstemmed BMP signaling mediates effects of exercise on hippocampal neurogenesis and cognition in mice.
title_short BMP signaling mediates effects of exercise on hippocampal neurogenesis and cognition in mice.
title_sort bmp signaling mediates effects of exercise on hippocampal neurogenesis and cognition in mice
url https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0007506&type=printable
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