Differential Alterations of Expression of the Serotoninergic System Genes and Mood-Related Behavior by Consumption of Aspartame or Potassium Acesulfame in Rats

The use of aspartame (ASP) and potassium acesulfame (ACK) to reduce weight gain is growing; however, contradictory effects in body mass index control and neurobiological alterations resulting from artificial sweeteners consumption have been reported. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the ch...

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Published in:Nutrients 2024-02, Vol.16 (4), p.490
Main Authors: Martínez-Magaña, José Jaime, Genis-Mendoza, Alma Delia, Gallegos-Silva, Ileana, López-Narváez, María Lilia, Juárez-Rojop, Isela Esther, Diaz-Zagoya, Juan C, Tovilla-Zárate, Carlos Alfonso, González-Castro, Thelma Beatriz, Nicolini, Humberto, Solis-Medina, Anayelly
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Anxiety
Aspartame
Aspartame - adverse effects
Body mass index
Brain
Computers
Eating behavior
Experiments
Food
Gene expression
Genes
Hypothalamus
Lorcaserin
Male
Obesity
Potassium
Rats
Rats, Wistar
RNA
RNA, Messenger - genetics
Serotonin
Services
Sweetening Agents - adverse effects
Ventilation
Weaning
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Summary:The use of aspartame (ASP) and potassium acesulfame (ACK) to reduce weight gain is growing; however, contradictory effects in body mass index control and neurobiological alterations resulting from artificial sweeteners consumption have been reported. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the chronic consumption of ASP and ACK on mood-related behavior and the brain expression of serotonin genes in male Wistar rats. Mood-related behaviors were evaluated using the swim-forced test and defensive burying at two time points: 45 days (juvenile) and 95 days (adult) postweaning. Additionally, the mRNA expression of three serotoninergic genes ( , , and ) was measured in the brain areas (prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and hypothalamus) involved in controlling mood-related behaviors. In terms of mood-related behaviors, rats consuming ACK exhibited anxiety-like behavior only during the juvenile stage. In contrast, rats consuming ASP showed a reduction in depressive-like behavior during the juvenile stage but an increase in the adult stage. The expression of mRNA increased in the hippocampus of rats consuming artificial sweeteners during the juvenile stage. In the adult stage, there was an upregulation in the relative expression of and in the hypothalamus, while expression decreased in the hippocampus of rats consuming ASP. Chronic consumption of ASP and ACK appears to have differential effects during neurodevelopmental stages in mood-related behavior, potentially mediated by alterations in serotoninergic gene expression.
ISSN:2072-6643
2072-6643
DOI:10.3390/nu16040490