Movement Disorders
Vol. 25, Suppl. 1, 2010, pp. S141–S145
Ó 2010 Movement Disorder Society
Enhancing Neuroplasticity in the Basal Ganglia: The Role of
Exercise in Parkinson’s Disease
Giselle M. Petzinger, MD,1,2* Beth E. Fisher, PhD,2 Jon-Eric Van Leeuwen, BSc,1 Marta Vukovic, MSc,1
Garnik Akopian, MD,3 Charlie K. Meshul, PhD,4 Daniel P. Holschneider, MD,5 Angelo Nacca, PhD,6
John P. Walsh, PhD,3 and Michael W. Jakowec, PhD1,2
1
The George and MaryLou Boone Center for Parkinson’s Disease Research, Department of Neurology,
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
2
Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
3
Andrus Gerontology Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
4
Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University/VA Medical Center, Portland, Oregon, USA
5
Department of Psychiatry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
6
Department of Radiology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
Abstract: Epidemiological and clinical trials have suggested that exercise is beneficial for patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, the underlying mechanisms
and potential for disease modification are currently
unknown. This review presents current findings from our
laboratories in patients with PD and animal models. The
data indicate that alterations in both dopaminergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission, induced by activity-depend-
ent (exercise) processes, may mitigate the cortically driven
hyper-excitability in the basal ganglia normally observed
in the parkinsonian state. These insights have potential to
identify novel therapeutic treatments capable of reversing
or delaying disease progression in PD. Ó 2010 Movement
Disorder Society
Key words: dopamine; MPTP; animal models; treadmill;
glutamate; electrophysiology; PET imaging
INTRODUCTION
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized as a progressive neurodegenerative disease with no known
cure. The primary pathology of PD is loss of substantia
nigra pars compacta neurons accompanied by loss of
striatal dopamine. Exercise has been shown to be beneficial in PD, yet the question remains whether exercise
leads to central nervous system (CNS) compensatory
or neuroprotective changes with potential to alter the
natural course of the disease. Studies have demonstrated that the adult brain is altered by experience
including exercise.1–4 This phenomenon termed ‘‘activity-dependent neuroplasticity’’ is defined as modifications within the CNS, in response to physical activity
that promotes a skill acquisition process.5 As such (1)
intensity; (2) specificity; (3) difficulty; and (4) complexity of practice appear to be important parameters
for driving neuroplasticity and a potential lasting effect
on both brain and behavior.6,7 Although the importance
of these parameters have been primarily established in
healthy brain and in brain injury secondary to stroke,
this framework has more recently been adopted to
study activity-dependent neuroplasticity in neurodegenerative diseases, including PD, and to examine its
potential to modify disease progression (Table 1).8–21
Using a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-(MPTP)-lesioned mouse model of PD, we have
examined the effects of intensive treadmill exercise on
activity-dependent neuroplasticity within the striatum.
Our studies have focused on exercise-induced changes
*Correspondence to: Dr. Giselle M. Petzinger, Department of Neurology, MCA-241, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern
California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033.
E-mail: gpetzinger@surgery.usc.edu
Conflict of interest: Nothing to report.
Received 14 December 2007; Accepted 21 August 2009
Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.
com). DOI: 10.1002/mds.22782
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G.M. PETZINGER ET AL.
TABLE 1. Practice variables important for evoking
activity-dependent neuroplasticity- examples in brain injury
(PD, stroke, spinal cord injury)
Practice
variable
Animal study
Human study
20
Difficulty
Petzinger et al., 2007 ;
Tillerson et al., 200121
Fisher et al., 200419;
De Leon et al., 199918;
Tillakaratne, 200217
Friel and Nudo, 199816
Complexity
Jones et al., 199915
Intensity
Specificity
Liepert, 200613;
Liepert et al., 200014
Forrester et al., 200612;
Dobkin et al., 200411
Wittenberg et al., 200310;
Johansen-Berg
et al., 20029
Winstein et al., 19978
in dopaminergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission.
Interactions between these systems are important for
normal basal ganglia function. Both dopaminergic neurons from the substantia nigra as well as glutamatergic
afferents from the cerebral cortex and thalamus synapse in close proximity on medium spiny neurons
(MSN) of the striatum and together dictate the electrophysiological properties of these cells.22,23 There is
compelling data that the loss of nigral dopaminergic
neurons is responsible for an increase in glutamatergic
corticostriatal drive at the level of the MSNs, contributing to the motor deficits in PD.24–27 One possible
mechanism by which exercise may drive activity-dependent neuroplasticity in PD may be through mitigating corticostriatal hyperactivity (i.e., hyperexcitability),
by modulating dopaminergic signaling, and/or diminishing glutamatergic neurotransmission.
CHANGES IN DOPAMINERGIC
NEUROTRANSMISSION WITH EXERCISE
Our MPTP model consisted of administration of
four intraperitoneal injections of 20 mg/kg (free-base)
at 2-hour intervals for a total administration of 80 mg/
kg, which leads to 60–70% of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neuronal death. Five days post-lesioning, when cell
death is complete, mice were subjected to exercise on
a motorized treadmill for 30 days (5 days/week). Task
specific benefits were observed as improvements in
both running velocity and endurance. Improvement
was also observed on a motor task that was designed
to assess balance.20 These benefits were accompanied
by increased dopamine availability, revealed as an
increase in stimulus-evoked release and a decrease in
dopamine decay as measured by fast-scan cyclic voltammetry. Interestingly this exercise effect of dopamine release was most pronounced within the dorsolateral striatum. Since the primary role of this area is in
motor function, use-dependent forms of neuroplasticity
Movement Disorders, Vol. 25, Suppl. 1, 2010
may explain this regional specificity in an exerciseinduced effect. Additionally, we observed an increase
in expression of dopamine D2 receptor mRNA and
down regulation of the dopamine transporter (DAT)
protein within the striatum, changes that are consistent
with increased dopaminergic signaling.19 A primary
role of DAT is to clear dopamine from the extracellular space. Down-regulation of DAT protein leads to
increased synaptic dopamine availability for dopamine
receptor binding.28 The binding of dopamine to both
the D1 and D2 receptors are required in the normal
brain to elicit a motor response. After basal ganglia
injury, however, this synergy is lost and dopamine
binding to either D1 or D2 may elicit a motor
response.29 In addition, dopamine binding to the D2 receptor alone may elicit a robust response that may be
attributed to its heightened sensitivity after lesioning.30
Thus, an exercise-induced increase in D2 receptor
expression coupled with an increase in the synaptic
availability of dopamine may be sufficient to elicit
increased
dopaminergic
neurotransmission
and
improved motor function. Preliminary Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging studies in our lab
using 18F-Fallypride, a benzamide ligand with high affinity for the D2 receptor, have demonstrated an exercise-induced increase in binding affinity within the
striatum, confirming our D2 receptor findings. Interestingly, we observed no exercise-induced changes in either the total level of striatal dopamine, as measured
by HPLC in tissue homogenates, or the number of dopaminergic substantia nigra neurons, measured by
immunohistochemistry. These findings suggest that
high intensity exercise leads to compensatory changes
in dopamine handling and neurotransmission.20
CHANGES IN GLUTAMATERGIC
NEUROTRANSMISSION AND EXERCISE
Studies in our laboratory also suggest that exerciseinduced neuroplasticity of the glutamatergic system
may diminish corticostriatal hyperexcitability and
underlie the motor improvement observed in our exercised mice. Specifically, using immuno-electron microscopy, we have observed that treadmill exercise
reversed the MPTP-induced increase level of presynaptic glutamate immunolabeling within striatal terminals, suggesting that exercise reduced the amount of
glutamate available for release.19 In addition, new
studies in our lab demonstrate that treadmill exercise
modulates postsynaptic AMPA receptor (AMPAR) subunit expression through an increase in both GluR2 and
phosphorylation of GluR2 at serine 880.31 The poten-
EXERCISE IN PARKINSON’S DISEASE
tial process by which these changes may lead to
decreased glutamatergic hyperexcitability could involve
a general reduction in glutamatergic neurotransmission
and synaptic strength (i.e., long-term depression). We
have been interested in examining exercise induced
changes in the AMPAR, as it is responsible for the majority of fast excitatory neurotransmission in the CNS
and it mediates activity-dependent processes that alter
synaptic strength.32,33 Located on the postsynaptic
MSN, the AMPAR is an ionotropic channel that converts the chemical signal of presynaptically released
glutamate into a postsynaptic electrical signal through
the mobilization of cations such as Na1 and Ca21.34
The AMPAR is a heteromeric tetramer consisting of
four subunits GluR1–4; the most abundant in the striatum are GluR1 and GluR2.32,35 Alterations in GluR2
expression and phosphorylation have been associated
with diminished synaptic strength (i.e., long-term
depression).32,36–38 Increased expression of the GluR2
subunit within the tetrameric complex of the AMPAR,
as seen in our exercised mice, creates an additional
positive charge within the channel pore, which impedes
cation flow, lowers calcium conductance and thus
diminishes synaptic strength.34,39 Another means of
regulating AMPAR transmission occurs via trafficking
and removal of the AMPAR from the membrane. This
may be regulated through phosphorylation of AMPAR
subunits, including GluR2. Specifically, phosphorylation of serine 880 on the GluR2 subunit leads to internalization of the entire receptor and decreased synaptic
strength (i.e., long-term depression).33,40 Studies in our
laboratory reveal that treadmill exercise increases the
phosphorylation state of GluR2 at serine 880 in
MPTP-lesioned mice. Additional electrophysiological
studies indicate that exercise-induced changes in the
expression of GluR2 subunit lead to decreased excitability in the MSNs, demonstrated by reduced EPSCs
generated by cortical stimulation. They have also
shown reduced polyamine sensitivity and loss of rectification in AMPAR conductance at depolarized membrane potentials of MSNs. These findings provide further evidence that changes in GluR2 expression are the
basis for the exercise-induced reduction in the EPSCs
of MSNs.34,39 Finally, consistent with an exercise
mediated attenuation of corticostriatal hyperexcitability, we have also observed an exercise induced
decrease in cerebral blood flow in corticostriatal
regions using cerebral perfusion studies in rats with basal ganglia injury.41 Collectively our data in both
mouse and rat models of basal ganglia injury indicate
that exercise training attenuates the over-activation in
basal ganglia-cortical circuits.
S143
In summary, these findings suggests that alterations
in both dopaminergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission through activity-dependent processes modulates
cortical hyper-excitability of the basal ganglia. Modulation of cortical hyper-excitability may be what underlies exercise-induced behavioral improvement. An important next step is to translate these findings to
humans, and to investigate whether high intensity exercise has similar benefits in PD.
ACTIVITY-DEPENDENT NEUROPLASTICITY
AND PARKINSON’S DISEASE
As our studies in animal models suggested that high
intensity is a characteristic of exercise that may be specifically important in promoting activity-dependent
neuroplasticity, we designed a study to the use of
Body-weight supported treadmill training (BWSTT) to
drive intensity of practice in individuals with PD.
BWSTT involves the use of an overhead harness that
allows exercise intensity to be safely escalated by
increasing treadmill velocity. Thus, subjects are able to
walk at higher gait speeds than they are able to obtain
over-ground. They also experience high repetition of
stepping, are actively engaged in the training, and have
the sensory experience of normal gait kinematics.
Patients with PD, no more than 3 years from initial diagnosis were asked to exercise at high intensity, 3
times per week for 8 weeks using body-weight
BWSTT. Outcomes consisted of measures of motor
performance, including gait kinematics, sit-to-stand,
and stair climbing. Unique to this human trial, and
directly related to our animal finding, was the inclusion
of measures of cortical excitability using transcranial
magnetic stimulation (TMS). TMS is a noninvasive
method of stimulating the brain and provides a tool for
assessment of excitability of the corticospinal motor
system. Single TMS pulses are applied over the motor
cortex while recording surface electromyography
(EMG) responses over a contralateral target muscle. If
the target muscle is preactivated (contracted), the TMS
pulse induces a characteristic transient period of EMG
silence called the cortical silent period (CSP). Importantly for this study, single pulse TMS studies have
shown systematic abnormalities of CSP and other corticoexcitability measures in individuals with PD. In
general, these abnormalities reflect cortical hyper-excitability in PD compared to non-PD control subjects.42,43
As CSP represents inhibitory influences on cortical
excitability, higher excitability would be evident as a
shortened CSP duration. In fact, shortened CSP durations are among the most consistent and widely repro-
Movement Disorders, Vol. 25, Suppl. 1, 2010
S144
G.M. PETZINGER ET AL.
duced TMS finding amongst PD patients.44 Further,
symptomatic treatment of PD with surgical or pharmacological interventions is associated with lengthening
of the CSP towards levels seen in control subjects.45,46
Thus, CSP duration could underlie symptomatic
improvement, such as improved motor performance.
Thus, not only is TMS an excellent tool to measure
CSP duration and to examine possible exercise-induced
changes in PD, but more importantly TMS may be
used to support the existence of CNS changes in
response to different exercise parameters including intensity. After 24 sessions of BWSTT subjects demonstrated improved walking performance including
increased gait velocity, stride length, step length, and
hip and ankle joint excursion, and improved weight
distribution during sit-to-stand. More importantly, these
subjects also showed reversal of cortical hyper-excitability indicated by increased CSP. In fact, every subject undergoing BWSTT showed exercise-induced
lengthening of CSP. To our knowledge, this was the
first demonstration of exercise-induced cortical changes
in the brain in individuals with PD.
FUTURE DIRECTIONS
We have shown that exercise may influence activitydependent processes in the basal ganglia through alterations in dopaminergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission. In addition, we demonstrate that exerciseinduced behavioral benefits may be in part due to
changes in cortical hyper-excitability normally
observed in the dopamine depleted state, as in PD.
Although we have demonstrated the potential impact
of BWSTT on the human condition, a critical next step
is to determine whether exercise induces or is associated with a disease modifying effect in PD. The implications for our understanding of the impact of exercise
in PD are broad. Not only is there potential to develop
new insights into mechanisms of neuroplasticity and
motor recovery in PD, but also the study of exercise
may lead to the development of novel therapeutics,
perhaps even nonpharmacological approaches to delay
or reverse disease progression in PD.
Acknowledgments: All authors have provided substantial
contributions to the data presented in this manuscript. This
work was supported by the Parkinson’s Alliance, Team Parkinson LA, the Whittier Parkinson’s Disease Education
Group, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and
Stroke Grant R01 NS44327-1, Department of Veterans
Affairs Merit Review Program, and the United States Army
Neurotoxin Exposure Treatment Research Program Grant
W81XWH-04-1-0444. A special thanks to friends of the Uni-
Movement Disorders, Vol. 25, Suppl. 1, 2010
versity of Southern California Parkinson’s Disease Research
Group, including George and Mary Lou Boone and Walter
and Susan Doniger.
Author Roles: GP, BF, JW, MJ: responsible for concept
and design. GP, BF: responsible for initial draft. GP, BF, JV,
MV: responsible for editing and revision of text. All authors
contributed to data acquisition and analysis reported in this
paper.
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