To research carbonylated proteins and screen molecular targets in the rat striatum on regular aerobic exercise, male SpragueDawley rats (13 months old, n = 24) were randomly divided into middle-aged sedentary control (M-SED) and aerobic exercise (M-EX) groups (n = 12 each). Maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) gradually increased from 50%–55% to 65%–70% for a total of 10 weeks. A total of 36 carbonylated proteins with modifed oxidative sites were identifed by Electrospray IonizationQuadrupole-Time of Flight-Mass Spectrometer (ESI-Q-TOF-MS), including 17 carbonylated proteins unique to the M-SED group, calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type II subunit beta (CaMKII�), and heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1 (Hnrnpa2b1), among others, and 19 specifc to the M-EX group, ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase isozyme L1 (UCHL1), and malic enzyme, among others. Regular aerobic exercise improved behavioral and stereological indicators, promoted normal apoptosis (P \u3c 0.01), alleviated carbonylation of the CaMKII� and Hnrnpa2b1, but induced carbonylation of the UCH-L1, and signifcantly upregulated the expression levels of CaMKII�, CaMKII�, and Vdac1 (p \u3c 0.01) and Hnrnpa2b1 and UCH-L1 (p \u3c 0.01), as well as the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin pathways (PI3K/Akt/mTOR) pathway-related genes Akt and mTOR. Regular aerobic exercise for 10 weeks (incremental for the frst 6 weeks followed by constant loading for 4 weeks) enhanced carbonylation of CaMKII�, Hnrnpa2b1, and modulated apoptosis via activation of CaMK and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mTOR signaling. It also promoted normal apoptosis in the rat striatum, which may have protective efects in neurons
