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P.1.h.018 Enhancement of locomotor activity following intraseptal NMDA glutamate receptor agonist injection in high and low responders to novelty
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P.1.h. Basic and clinical neuroscience − Animal behaviour
hormone − corticosterone − by adrenalectomy this neurochemical memory does not exist anymore. This study shed in light some crucial parameters that exist at the usual time of injection: stress and plasticity in control rats, and may have potential impact to manage psychiatric disorders, in which repeated stress plays a key role. References [1] Ros´en, A., Brodin, K., Eneroth, P., Brodin, E., 1992. Short-term restraint stress and s.c. saline injection alter the tissue levels of substance P and cholecystokinin in the peri-aqueductal grey and limbic regions of rat brain. Acta Physiol Scand., 146(3):341-8. [2] Mart´ınez-T´ellez, R.I., Hern´andez-Torres, E., Gamboa, C., Flores, G., 2009. Prenatal stress alters spine density and dendritic length of nucleus accumbens and hippocampus neurons in rat offspring. Synapse., 63(9):794-804. [3] Puig, S., Noble, F., Benturquia, N., 2012. Short- and long-lasting behavioral and neurochemical adaptations: relationship with patterns of cocaine administration and expectation of drug effects in rats. Transl Psychiatry., 2(10):e175. [4] Geoffroy, HA-S., Puig, S., Benturquia, N., Noble, F., 2014. Temporal Regulation of Peripheral BDNF Levels during Cocaine and Morphine Withdrawal: Comparison with a Natural Reward. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol., 18(5).
P.1.h.017 Differential regulation of Zinc Transporters type 1, 3 and 4 in the brain of rats subjected to olfactory bulbectomy model of depression A. Rafalo1,2 ° , K. Kotarska1,2 , K. Wiatrowska1,3 , G. Nowak2 , B. Szewczyk2 1 Jagiellonian University, Faculty of Biology and Earth Sciences − Institute of Zoology, Krakow, Poland; 2 Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of Neurobiology, Krak´ow, Poland; 3 Jagiellonian University, Faculty of Biochemistry − Biophysics and Biotechnology, Krak´ow, Poland Background: Zinc (Zn) is an essential trance element and Zn homeostasis is crucial to a variety of cellular processes and to the central and peripheral disorders. Preclinical and clinical data reported the key role of Zn in the pathology and treatment of depression [2]. The aim of the present study was to examine the role of Zn homeostasis-regulating proteins in the pathophysiology of depression [1]. To elucidate the significance of Zn transporters mRNA and protein expression level of ZnT-1, ZnT-3 and ZnT-4 was measured in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus of rats subjected to the procedure of olfactory bulbectomy (OB) − the most validated animal model of depression. ZnT-1, ZnT-3 and ZnT-4 are the members of ZnT family of Zn transporters responsible for decreasing cytoplasmic Zn. ZnT-1 is localized in the plasma membrane and is responsible for Zn export from the cytosol to the extracellular space. ZnT-3 sequesters Zn into synaptic vesicles and ZnT-4 is involved in the transport of Zn to the cellular compartments. Methods: Using our published procedure [3] the bilateral removal of olfactory bulbs was performed in male Sprague– Dawley rats under anesthesia. In control rats (Sham) the bulbs were left intact. 14 days following surgery the open-field test was performed to examine depression-like behavior (hyperactivity) induced by OB. Only rats with observed hyperactivity and rats with completely removed olfactory bulbs but without significant damage to the frontal cortex were selected for the biochemical studies. 24 h after the test, rats were decapitated and PFC and hippocampus was collected for Western blot (protein analysis) and real-time RT-PCR (mRNA analysis) studies. Differences between Sham and OB groups were analyzed by Student t-test.
Results: Real Time PCR analysis showed that OB did not influence the mRNA expression of ZnT-1, ZnT-3 and ZnT-4 in the PFC and hippocampus of rats. In contrast to mRNA, western blot analysis of the PFC of rats subjected to OB revealed that OB significantly increased the protein level of ZnT-1 (by 58%; p = 0.035); decreased the protein level of ZnT-3 (by 30%, p = 0.043) and slightly decreased the protein level of ZnT-4 (by 24%, p = 0.1) when compared to Sham rats. In the hippocampus statistically significant increase was only found in ZnT-1 protein level in OB rats when compared to Sham group (by 43%, p = 0.037) while the level of ZnT-1 and ZnT-3 remained unchanged. Conclusions: The present study provides the first account of the effects of OB on the level of ZnT-1, ZnT-3 and ZnT-4 and suggests that alterations in Zn transport proteins may contribute to the pathophysiology of depression. A different pattern of changes in the expression of ZnT-1, ZnT-3 and ZnT-4 in the PFC and hippocampus induced by OB indicates different, brain region specific and independent role of these proteins in the processes underlying depression. The absence of changes in the gene expression of ZnT-1, ZnT-3 and ZnT-4 in the PFC and hippocampus of rats suggest the involvement of post-transcriptional mechanisms in the OB induced alterations. References [1] Szewczyk, B., 2013. Zinc homeostasis and neurodegenerative disorders. Front Aging Neurosci 19, 5−33. [2] Liuzzi, J.P., Cousins, R.J., 2004. Mammalian Zn transporters. Annu Rev Nutr 24, 151–172. [3] Szewczyk, B., Kotarska, K., Daigle, M., Misztak, P., Sowa-Kucma, M., Rafalo, A., Curzytek, K., Kubera, M., Basta-Kaim, A., Nowak, G., Albert P.R., 2014. Stress-induced alterations in 5-HT1A receptor transcriptional modulators NUDR and Freud-1. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 17, 1763–1775. Disclosure statement: This study was supported by grant POMOST/ 2012−6/12.
P.1.h.018 Enhancement of locomotor activity following intraseptal NMDA glutamate receptor agonist injection in high and low responders to novelty M. Podlacha1 ° , M. Grzybowska1 , M. Chwiej1 , E. Laska1 , D. Wrona1 1 University of Gdansk Biology, Biology, Gdansk, Poland Locomotor activity in the novelty test is one of the basic behavioral characteristics utilized to evaluate individual reactivity to stress. Its significant increase along with novelty preference, can be compared to sensation-seeking behavior, closely related to drug addiction [1]. Rats with septal lesions are less active than controls, but hyperactive in situations, which encourage exploratory behavior. Moreover, microinjection of glutamate agonist into the nucleus accumbens, modulates extracellular dopamine levels and locomotor activation, produced by psychostimulants. However, role of the medial septal (MS) glutamatergic receptors, particularly the NMDA subtype, in modulation of locomotor activity, remains still unclear. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the MS NMDA receptor activation influences differential locomotor activity, measured by three types of movements: horizontal, vertical and ambulatory in rats differing in behavioral characteristics, anxiety, stress susceptibility and physiological parameters, which
P.1.h. Basic and clinical neuroscience − Animal behaviour results from a diverse locomotor response to novelty: high (HR) or low (LR) responders [2,3]. Male Wistar rats divided into the HRs and LRs in the novelty test (2 h) were exposed to a measurement of the behavioral activity in photocell actometers for 15 minutes at the baseline and 5 minutes after injection of NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor agonist, 0.25 mg/rat in 0.5 ml saline solution [4]; n = 14) or saline (0.5 ml/rat; n = 12) via implanted cannulae into the MS. The photocell beams located 25 mm above the floor were used to determine horizontal counts, while those located 175 mm above the floor to estimate vertical activity. Ambulatory readings were registered when two different consecutive beams were broken, providing an overall assessment of locomotor activity. Data are presented as mean±SD. A single injection of NMDA produced alteration in the motor activity of the rats, resulting in a significantly elevated horizontal and ambulatory activity in both HRs and LRs (HOR: HR=1246±38 counts/15 min, LR=1218±87 counts/15 min; AMB: HR=743±99 counts/15 min, LR=796±59 counts/15 min) in comparison with the baseline value (HOR: HR=1012±75 counts/15 min, p0.001, LR=962±74 counts/15 min, p0.001; AMB: HR=554±95 counts/15 min, p0.001; LR=516±90 counts/15 min, p0.001) and the SAL control group (HOR: HR=973±32 counts/15 min, p0.05, LR=1001±9, p0.001; AMB: HR=408±86 counts/15 min, p0.05, LR=466±92 counts/ 15 min, p0.001). Moreover, there were significantly lower vertical activity counts (VER: HR=92±9 counts/15 min, LR=96±11 counts/15 min) as compared to the baseline value (HR=167±12 counts/15 min, p0.001; LR=127±10 counts/15 min, p0.001) whereas there were significantly higher as compared to the SAL control group (HR=79±8 counts/15 min, p0.05; LR=75±10 counts/15 min, p0.01). The results of the present experiments show that the MS NMDA glutamate receptor activation-induced increase in spontaneous locomotor activity is not depending on the differences in stress susceptibility (HRs vs. LRs) in rats. Ambiguous effect of the MS NMDA activation is reflected in vertical movements increase, which is observed only in comparison to the SAL control group, but not compared to the baseline value. It suggests that analysis of different types of movements can be important in a role of the MS NMDA glutamate receptors activation in the expression of locomotor sensitization by psychomotor stimulant drugs. References [1] Dellu, F., Piazza, P.V., Mayo, W., Le Moal, M., Simon, H., 1996. Novelty-seeking in rats − biobehavioral characteristics and possible relationship with the sensation-seeking trait in man. Neuropsychobiology 34, 136–145. [2] Wrona, D., Listowska, M., Kubera, M., Majkutewicz, I., Glac, W., Wojtyła-Kuchta, B., Pluci´nska, K., Grembecka, B., Podlacha, M., 2013. Chronic antidepressant desipramine treatment increases open fieldinduced brain expression and spleen production of interleukin 10 in rats. Brain Res. Bull. 99, 117–131. [3] Wrona, D., Listowska, M., Kubera, M., Glac, W., Grembecka, B., Pluci´nska, K., Majkutewicz, I., Podlacha, M., 2014. Effects of chronic desipramine pretreatment on open field-induced suppresion of blood natural killer cell activity and cytokine response depend on the rat’s behavioral characteristics. J. Neuroimmunol. 268, 13−24. [4] Khakpai, F., Nasehi, M., Haeri-Rohani, A., Eidi, A., Zarrindast, M.R., 2012. Scopolamine induced memory impairment; possible involvement of NMDA receptor mechanisms of dorsal hippocampus and/or septum. Behav. Brain Res. 231, 1−10. Disclosure statement: This abstract is financially supported by an educational grant from the University of Gdansk (538-L124-B074−13 and 538-L124-B597−14).
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P.1.h.019 The effects of swimming exercises, calorie restraction or l-carnitine treatment on behavior parameters, cognitive functions in high fat diet fed rats A. Golgeli1 ° , N.B. Bahadır1 , K. Yazgan1 , M. Salim2 1 Erciyes University School of Medicine, Physiology, Kayseri, Turkey; 2 Erciyes University School of Medicine, Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey Purpose of the study: Nutritional imbalance-induced obesity causes a variety of diseases and in particular is an important cause of cognitive function decline [1]. Exercise training is considered an important environmental factor associated with body weight regulation, and this training has been shown to decrease chronic, low-grade systemic inflammation in humans [2]. This study investigated the behavior parameters and cognitive functions and how they are affected in exercise protocol additional caloric restriction or carnitine application in high-fat died fed rats. Materials and Methods: Research was carried out on 40 male Sprague-Dawley rats (three month-old) divided into 4 groups:I.control group, II. exercise group, III. exercise +caloric restriction group, IV. exercise + L carnitine application group. Swimming exercises were applied to all the rats group except control group. Only the rats in the swimming exercise group were made to swim in a swimming tank at room temperature for 15 minutes for 10 days. Exercise+ L carnitine group were treated with L-carnitine 100 mg/kg/day, i.p one hour before swimming exercise during the 10 days. Swimming exercise+ caloric restriction group of rats were fed on a reduced diet by 40%.All animals were weighed prior to the experiment and after the experiments were completed, weight changes were compared. The animals were tested in a open field (OF) and Moriss Water Maze (MWM). Grooming behavior, and the number of defecation was accepted as an indicator of autonomic function. Locomotor experiments were performed using a standardized open field test (Ethovision Color Pro v. 3.0 Noldus). Spatial learning (acquisition phase) and memory (probe trial) were evaluated in hidden version of Morris water maze for initial learning on days 1−4. Results: In the open field apparatus the number of line crossings in the exercise +L-Carnitine group (31±5.55) and exercise +caloric restriction m group (22.12±4.48), was significantly reduced compared to control (45.4±7.82) and exercisegroup(46.3±4.98)(p < 0.05). The number of standing up (rear number) in the group of L-Carnitine (14±2.82) and caloric restriction group (9.25±2.71) were significantly decreased compared to the control and exercisegroup(p < 0.01). Total clearance (gromming number) compared to the control group and performed exercises in every three group also significantly decreased (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences between four grups in terms of defecation number. Escape latency to find the platform decreased during the initial learning (day 1−4). In the MWM test, the escape latency signifivantly increased in acquisition sessions and the time spent in escape platforms’s quadrant in the probe trial scnificantly decreased in exercise group (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The applied short term swimming exercise did not affect behavior parameters. Exercise administered with L carnitine or caloric restriction has a negative impact on exploratory behavior and locomotor activity. Swimming exercise, L-carnitine administration or calorie restriction does not adversely affect spatial learning and memory. As maximum body weight loss was
P.1.h. Basic and clinical neuroscience − Animal behaviour
hormone − corticosterone − by adrenalectomy this neurochemical memory does not exist anymore. This study shed in light some crucial parameters that exist at the usual time of injection: stress and plasticity in control rats, and may have potential impact to manage psychiatric disorders, in which repeated stress plays a key role. References [1] Ros´en, A., Brodin, K., Eneroth, P., Brodin, E., 1992. Short-term restraint stress and s.c. saline injection alter the tissue levels of substance P and cholecystokinin in the peri-aqueductal grey and limbic regions of rat brain. Acta Physiol Scand., 146(3):341-8. [2] Mart´ınez-T´ellez, R.I., Hern´andez-Torres, E., Gamboa, C., Flores, G., 2009. Prenatal stress alters spine density and dendritic length of nucleus accumbens and hippocampus neurons in rat offspring. Synapse., 63(9):794-804. [3] Puig, S., Noble, F., Benturquia, N., 2012. Short- and long-lasting behavioral and neurochemical adaptations: relationship with patterns of cocaine administration and expectation of drug effects in rats. Transl Psychiatry., 2(10):e175. [4] Geoffroy, HA-S., Puig, S., Benturquia, N., Noble, F., 2014. Temporal Regulation of Peripheral BDNF Levels during Cocaine and Morphine Withdrawal: Comparison with a Natural Reward. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol., 18(5).
P.1.h.017 Differential regulation of Zinc Transporters type 1, 3 and 4 in the brain of rats subjected to olfactory bulbectomy model of depression A. Rafalo1,2 ° , K. Kotarska1,2 , K. Wiatrowska1,3 , G. Nowak2 , B. Szewczyk2 1 Jagiellonian University, Faculty of Biology and Earth Sciences − Institute of Zoology, Krakow, Poland; 2 Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of Neurobiology, Krak´ow, Poland; 3 Jagiellonian University, Faculty of Biochemistry − Biophysics and Biotechnology, Krak´ow, Poland Background: Zinc (Zn) is an essential trance element and Zn homeostasis is crucial to a variety of cellular processes and to the central and peripheral disorders. Preclinical and clinical data reported the key role of Zn in the pathology and treatment of depression [2]. The aim of the present study was to examine the role of Zn homeostasis-regulating proteins in the pathophysiology of depression [1]. To elucidate the significance of Zn transporters mRNA and protein expression level of ZnT-1, ZnT-3 and ZnT-4 was measured in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus of rats subjected to the procedure of olfactory bulbectomy (OB) − the most validated animal model of depression. ZnT-1, ZnT-3 and ZnT-4 are the members of ZnT family of Zn transporters responsible for decreasing cytoplasmic Zn. ZnT-1 is localized in the plasma membrane and is responsible for Zn export from the cytosol to the extracellular space. ZnT-3 sequesters Zn into synaptic vesicles and ZnT-4 is involved in the transport of Zn to the cellular compartments. Methods: Using our published procedure [3] the bilateral removal of olfactory bulbs was performed in male Sprague– Dawley rats under anesthesia. In control rats (Sham) the bulbs were left intact. 14 days following surgery the open-field test was performed to examine depression-like behavior (hyperactivity) induced by OB. Only rats with observed hyperactivity and rats with completely removed olfactory bulbs but without significant damage to the frontal cortex were selected for the biochemical studies. 24 h after the test, rats were decapitated and PFC and hippocampus was collected for Western blot (protein analysis) and real-time RT-PCR (mRNA analysis) studies. Differences between Sham and OB groups were analyzed by Student t-test.
Results: Real Time PCR analysis showed that OB did not influence the mRNA expression of ZnT-1, ZnT-3 and ZnT-4 in the PFC and hippocampus of rats. In contrast to mRNA, western blot analysis of the PFC of rats subjected to OB revealed that OB significantly increased the protein level of ZnT-1 (by 58%; p = 0.035); decreased the protein level of ZnT-3 (by 30%, p = 0.043) and slightly decreased the protein level of ZnT-4 (by 24%, p = 0.1) when compared to Sham rats. In the hippocampus statistically significant increase was only found in ZnT-1 protein level in OB rats when compared to Sham group (by 43%, p = 0.037) while the level of ZnT-1 and ZnT-3 remained unchanged. Conclusions: The present study provides the first account of the effects of OB on the level of ZnT-1, ZnT-3 and ZnT-4 and suggests that alterations in Zn transport proteins may contribute to the pathophysiology of depression. A different pattern of changes in the expression of ZnT-1, ZnT-3 and ZnT-4 in the PFC and hippocampus induced by OB indicates different, brain region specific and independent role of these proteins in the processes underlying depression. The absence of changes in the gene expression of ZnT-1, ZnT-3 and ZnT-4 in the PFC and hippocampus of rats suggest the involvement of post-transcriptional mechanisms in the OB induced alterations. References [1] Szewczyk, B., 2013. Zinc homeostasis and neurodegenerative disorders. Front Aging Neurosci 19, 5−33. [2] Liuzzi, J.P., Cousins, R.J., 2004. Mammalian Zn transporters. Annu Rev Nutr 24, 151–172. [3] Szewczyk, B., Kotarska, K., Daigle, M., Misztak, P., Sowa-Kucma, M., Rafalo, A., Curzytek, K., Kubera, M., Basta-Kaim, A., Nowak, G., Albert P.R., 2014. Stress-induced alterations in 5-HT1A receptor transcriptional modulators NUDR and Freud-1. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 17, 1763–1775. Disclosure statement: This study was supported by grant POMOST/ 2012−6/12.
P.1.h.018 Enhancement of locomotor activity following intraseptal NMDA glutamate receptor agonist injection in high and low responders to novelty M. Podlacha1 ° , M. Grzybowska1 , M. Chwiej1 , E. Laska1 , D. Wrona1 1 University of Gdansk Biology, Biology, Gdansk, Poland Locomotor activity in the novelty test is one of the basic behavioral characteristics utilized to evaluate individual reactivity to stress. Its significant increase along with novelty preference, can be compared to sensation-seeking behavior, closely related to drug addiction [1]. Rats with septal lesions are less active than controls, but hyperactive in situations, which encourage exploratory behavior. Moreover, microinjection of glutamate agonist into the nucleus accumbens, modulates extracellular dopamine levels and locomotor activation, produced by psychostimulants. However, role of the medial septal (MS) glutamatergic receptors, particularly the NMDA subtype, in modulation of locomotor activity, remains still unclear. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the MS NMDA receptor activation influences differential locomotor activity, measured by three types of movements: horizontal, vertical and ambulatory in rats differing in behavioral characteristics, anxiety, stress susceptibility and physiological parameters, which
P.1.h. Basic and clinical neuroscience − Animal behaviour results from a diverse locomotor response to novelty: high (HR) or low (LR) responders [2,3]. Male Wistar rats divided into the HRs and LRs in the novelty test (2 h) were exposed to a measurement of the behavioral activity in photocell actometers for 15 minutes at the baseline and 5 minutes after injection of NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor agonist, 0.25 mg/rat in 0.5 ml saline solution [4]; n = 14) or saline (0.5 ml/rat; n = 12) via implanted cannulae into the MS. The photocell beams located 25 mm above the floor were used to determine horizontal counts, while those located 175 mm above the floor to estimate vertical activity. Ambulatory readings were registered when two different consecutive beams were broken, providing an overall assessment of locomotor activity. Data are presented as mean±SD. A single injection of NMDA produced alteration in the motor activity of the rats, resulting in a significantly elevated horizontal and ambulatory activity in both HRs and LRs (HOR: HR=1246±38 counts/15 min, LR=1218±87 counts/15 min; AMB: HR=743±99 counts/15 min, LR=796±59 counts/15 min) in comparison with the baseline value (HOR: HR=1012±75 counts/15 min, p0.001, LR=962±74 counts/15 min, p0.001; AMB: HR=554±95 counts/15 min, p0.001; LR=516±90 counts/15 min, p0.001) and the SAL control group (HOR: HR=973±32 counts/15 min, p0.05, LR=1001±9, p0.001; AMB: HR=408±86 counts/15 min, p0.05, LR=466±92 counts/ 15 min, p0.001). Moreover, there were significantly lower vertical activity counts (VER: HR=92±9 counts/15 min, LR=96±11 counts/15 min) as compared to the baseline value (HR=167±12 counts/15 min, p0.001; LR=127±10 counts/15 min, p0.001) whereas there were significantly higher as compared to the SAL control group (HR=79±8 counts/15 min, p0.05; LR=75±10 counts/15 min, p0.01). The results of the present experiments show that the MS NMDA glutamate receptor activation-induced increase in spontaneous locomotor activity is not depending on the differences in stress susceptibility (HRs vs. LRs) in rats. Ambiguous effect of the MS NMDA activation is reflected in vertical movements increase, which is observed only in comparison to the SAL control group, but not compared to the baseline value. It suggests that analysis of different types of movements can be important in a role of the MS NMDA glutamate receptors activation in the expression of locomotor sensitization by psychomotor stimulant drugs. References [1] Dellu, F., Piazza, P.V., Mayo, W., Le Moal, M., Simon, H., 1996. Novelty-seeking in rats − biobehavioral characteristics and possible relationship with the sensation-seeking trait in man. Neuropsychobiology 34, 136–145. [2] Wrona, D., Listowska, M., Kubera, M., Majkutewicz, I., Glac, W., Wojtyła-Kuchta, B., Pluci´nska, K., Grembecka, B., Podlacha, M., 2013. Chronic antidepressant desipramine treatment increases open fieldinduced brain expression and spleen production of interleukin 10 in rats. Brain Res. Bull. 99, 117–131. [3] Wrona, D., Listowska, M., Kubera, M., Glac, W., Grembecka, B., Pluci´nska, K., Majkutewicz, I., Podlacha, M., 2014. Effects of chronic desipramine pretreatment on open field-induced suppresion of blood natural killer cell activity and cytokine response depend on the rat’s behavioral characteristics. J. Neuroimmunol. 268, 13−24. [4] Khakpai, F., Nasehi, M., Haeri-Rohani, A., Eidi, A., Zarrindast, M.R., 2012. Scopolamine induced memory impairment; possible involvement of NMDA receptor mechanisms of dorsal hippocampus and/or septum. Behav. Brain Res. 231, 1−10. Disclosure statement: This abstract is financially supported by an educational grant from the University of Gdansk (538-L124-B074−13 and 538-L124-B597−14).
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P.1.h.019 The effects of swimming exercises, calorie restraction or l-carnitine treatment on behavior parameters, cognitive functions in high fat diet fed rats A. Golgeli1 ° , N.B. Bahadır1 , K. Yazgan1 , M. Salim2 1 Erciyes University School of Medicine, Physiology, Kayseri, Turkey; 2 Erciyes University School of Medicine, Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey Purpose of the study: Nutritional imbalance-induced obesity causes a variety of diseases and in particular is an important cause of cognitive function decline [1]. Exercise training is considered an important environmental factor associated with body weight regulation, and this training has been shown to decrease chronic, low-grade systemic inflammation in humans [2]. This study investigated the behavior parameters and cognitive functions and how they are affected in exercise protocol additional caloric restriction or carnitine application in high-fat died fed rats. Materials and Methods: Research was carried out on 40 male Sprague-Dawley rats (three month-old) divided into 4 groups:I.control group, II. exercise group, III. exercise +caloric restriction group, IV. exercise + L carnitine application group. Swimming exercises were applied to all the rats group except control group. Only the rats in the swimming exercise group were made to swim in a swimming tank at room temperature for 15 minutes for 10 days. Exercise+ L carnitine group were treated with L-carnitine 100 mg/kg/day, i.p one hour before swimming exercise during the 10 days. Swimming exercise+ caloric restriction group of rats were fed on a reduced diet by 40%.All animals were weighed prior to the experiment and after the experiments were completed, weight changes were compared. The animals were tested in a open field (OF) and Moriss Water Maze (MWM). Grooming behavior, and the number of defecation was accepted as an indicator of autonomic function. Locomotor experiments were performed using a standardized open field test (Ethovision Color Pro v. 3.0 Noldus). Spatial learning (acquisition phase) and memory (probe trial) were evaluated in hidden version of Morris water maze for initial learning on days 1−4. Results: In the open field apparatus the number of line crossings in the exercise +L-Carnitine group (31±5.55) and exercise +caloric restriction m group (22.12±4.48), was significantly reduced compared to control (45.4±7.82) and exercisegroup(46.3±4.98)(p < 0.05). The number of standing up (rear number) in the group of L-Carnitine (14±2.82) and caloric restriction group (9.25±2.71) were significantly decreased compared to the control and exercisegroup(p < 0.01). Total clearance (gromming number) compared to the control group and performed exercises in every three group also significantly decreased (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences between four grups in terms of defecation number. Escape latency to find the platform decreased during the initial learning (day 1−4). In the MWM test, the escape latency signifivantly increased in acquisition sessions and the time spent in escape platforms’s quadrant in the probe trial scnificantly decreased in exercise group (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The applied short term swimming exercise did not affect behavior parameters. Exercise administered with L carnitine or caloric restriction has a negative impact on exploratory behavior and locomotor activity. Swimming exercise, L-carnitine administration or calorie restriction does not adversely affect spatial learning and memory. As maximum body weight loss was