Exercise induces region-specific remodeling of astrocyte morphology and reactive astrocyte gene expression patterns in male mice

Astrocytes are essential mediators of many aspects of synaptic transmission and neuroplasticity. Exercise has been demonstrated to induce neuroplasticity and synaptic remodeling, such as through mediating neurorehabilitation in animal models of neurodegeneration. However, the effects of exercise on astrocytic function, and how such changes may be relevant to neuroplasticity remain unclear. Here, we show that exercise remodels astrocytes in an exercise- and region-dependent manner as measured by GFAP and SOX9 immunohistochemistry and morphological analysis in male mice. Additionally, qRT-PCR analysis of reactive astrocyte gene expression showed an exercise-induced elevation in brain regions known to be activated by exercise. Taken together, these data demonstrate that exercise actively modifies astrocyte morphology and drives changes in astrocyte gene expression and suggest that astrocytes may be a central component to exercise-induced neuroplasticity and neurorehabilitation.