Stamina-enhancing effects of human adipose derived stem cells (hADSCs) were investigated in young Sprague-Dawley rats. Ten-day-old male rats were transplanted intravenously (IV) or intracerebroventricularly (ICV) with hADSCs (1 × 106 cells/rat), and physical activity was measured by locomotor activity and rota-rod performance at post-natal day (PND) 14, 20, 30, and 40, as well as a forced swimming test at PND 41. hADSCs injection increased the moving time in locomotor activity, the latency in rota-rod performance, and the maximum swimming time. For the improvement of physical activity, ICV transplantation was superior to IV injection. In biochemical analyses, ICV transplantation of hADSCs markedly reduced serum creatine phosphokinase, lactate dehydrogenase, alanine transaminase, and muscular lipid peroxidation, the markers for muscular and hepatic injuries, despite the reduction in muscular glycogen and serum triglycerides as energy sources. Notably, hADSCs secreted brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor in vitro, and increased the level of BDNF in the brain and muscles in vivo. The results indicate that hADSCs enhance physical activity including stamina not only by attenuating tissue injury, but also by strengthening the muscles via production of BDNF.
Keywords: adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC); brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF); physical activity; stamina.