Prepro-galanin messenger RNA levels are increased in rat locus coeruleus after treadmill exercise training

The effects of treadmill exercise training on prepro-galanin (GAL) and tyro sine hydroxylase (TH) gene expression in the locus coeruleus (LC) were exam ined. Male Fischer-344 rats (n = 9) were assigned to 6 weeks of treadmill r unning. An additional group of animals comprised the sedentary home cage co ntrol group (n = 9). Levels of GAL and TH messenger RNA (mRNA) in the LC we re measured using in situ hybridization histochemistry with autoradiography . Levels of GAL mRNA were higher in treadmill trained animals compared to s edentary animals, but there was no effect of treadmill running on TH mRNA. These results suggest that gene expression for galanin is responsive to rep eated exercise stress and may have a neuromodulatory role in LC-noradrenerg ic adaptation to treadmill exercise training. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ire land Ltd. All rights reserved.