The influence of high fat diets with different ketogenic ratios on the hippocampal accumulation of creatine – FTIR microspectroscopy study

• Published in: Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy, 2017-09, Vol.184, p.13-22
• Main Authors: Skoczen, A., Setkowicz, Z., Janeczko, K., Sandt, Ch, Borondics, F., Chwiej, J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Creatine; Fourier-transform infrared microspectroscopy; Hippocampal formation; Ketogenic diet; Phosphocreatine; Synchrotron radiation
• ISSN: 1386-1425
• DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2017.04.085

The main purpose of this study was the determination and comparison of anomalies in creatine (Cr) accumulation occurring within CA3 and DG areas of hippocampal formation as a result of two high-fat, carbohydrate-restricted ketogenic diets (KD) with different ketogenic ratio (KR). To reach this goal, Fourier transformed infrared microspectroscopy with synchrotron radiation source (SRFTIR microspectroscopy) was applied for chemical mapping of creatine absorption bands, occurring around 1304, 1398 and 2800 cm−1. The samples were taken from three groups of experimental animals: control group (N) fed with standard laboratory diet, KD1 and KD2 groups fed with high-fat diets with KR 5:1 and 9:1 respectively. Additionally, the possible influence on the phosphocreatine (PhCr, the high energetic form of creatine) content was evaluated by comparative analysis of chemical maps obtained for creatine and for compounds containing phosphate groups which manifest in the spectra at the wavenumbers of around 1240 and 1080 cm−1. Our results showed that KD2 strongly modifies the frequency of Cr inclusions in both analyzed hippocampal areas. Statistical analysis, performed with Mann-Whitney U test revealed increased accumulation of Cr within CA3 and DG areas of KD2 fed rats compared to both normal rats and KD1 experimental group. Moreover, KD2 diet may modify the frequency of PhCr deposits as well as the PhCr to Cr ratio. [Display omitted] •Influence of ketogenic diet (KD) on the brain Cr accumulation strongly depends on its ketogenic ratio (KR) and composition.•Description of analytical method which can be helpful in preliminary identification of possible PhCr inclusions.•Treatment with higher KR ketogenic diet results in improvement in hippocampal energy production capacity.