Brain and behavioral perturbations in rats following Western diet access. (1st October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hargrave, Sara L.; Davidson, Terry L.; Lee, Tien-Jui; Kinzig, Kimberly P.
• Is Part Of: Appetite. Volume 93(2015)
• Page Start: 35
• Page End: 43
• Publication Date: 2015-10-01
• Subjects: Obesity -- GLUT1 -- MCT1 -- Vicarious trial and error -- Spontaneous alternation -- Hippocampus; Food habits -- Periodicals; Appetite -- Periodicals; Appetite disorders -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 306.4613
• DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2015.03.037
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0195-6663

Abstract

Highlights: Short-term western diet access impairs spontaneous alternation performance. Vicarious trial and error is disturbed throughout the course of western diet treatment. Hippocampal GLUT1 and MCT1 mRNA levels decreased following western diet maintenance. Hippocampal MCT1 mRNA levels increased following long-term access to ketogenic diet. Abstract: Energy dense "Western" diets (WD) are known to cause obesity as well as learning and memory impairments, blood–brain barrier damage, and psychological disturbances. Impaired glucose (GLUT1) and monocarboxylate (MCT1) transport may play a role in diet-induced dementia development. In contrast, ketogenic diets (KD) have been shown to be neuroprotective. We assessed the effect of 10, 40 and 90 days WD, KD and Chow maintenance on spontaneous alternation (SA) and vicarious trial and error (VTE) behaviors in male rats, then analyzed blood glucose, insulin, and ketone levels; and hippocampal GLUT1 and MCT1 mRNA. Compared to Chow and KD, rats fed WD had increased 90 day insulin levels. SA was decreased in WD rats at 10, but not 40 or 90 days. VTE was perturbed in WD-fed rats, particularly at 10 and 90 days, indicating hippocampal deficits. WD rats had lower hippocampal GLUT1 and MCT1 expression compared to Chow and KD, and KD rats had increased 90 day MCT1 expression compared to Chow and WD. These data suggest that WD reduces glucose and monocarboxylate transport at the hippocampus, which may result in learning and memory deficits. Further, KD consumption may be useful for MCT1 transporter recovery, which may benefit cognition.