The Effect of Aerobic Training with the Consumption of Probiotic on the Myelination of Nerve Fibers in Cuprizone-Induced Demyelination Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis

Introduction: Extensive human and animal research shows that exercise has beneficial effects on multiple clinical outcomes for patients suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS). This research was an attempt to address the effect of aerobic training with the consumption of probiotic on the myelination of nerve fibers in a cuprizone-induced demyelination mouse model of MS. Methods: Mice, which were exposed to cuprizone (CPZ) for 13 weeks, were subjected to motor and balance tests in week 5. They (n = 5 per group) were assigned to five groups of control (C), MS, MS with exercise (MS + Exe), MS with probiotic (MS + Pro), and MS with probiotic and exercise (MS + Pro + Exe) randomly. The exercise groups conducted aerobic exercises 5 days/week for 60 days. The mice took in probiotic by gavage. Performance and balance tests were repeated when the eight-week protocol of exercise and probiotic consumption was finished. One day after these interventions, they were sacrificed in order to be subject to biochemical and molecular biology assays. Results: The results showed that myelin basic protein (MBP) was increased in the MS + Pro + Exe, MS + Pro, and MS + Exe compared to the MS group (P<0.05). The mRNA of nestin showed an increase in MS + Pro + Exe, MS + Exe, and MS + Pro groups compared to the MS group, but this increase in MS + Pro + Exe and MS + Exe groups was not significant compared to the control and MS groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: According to the results, lifestyle interventions can effectively alleviate demyelinating-inflammatory processes that happen in the brains of MS patients.