Diet-induced insulin resistance impairs hippocampal synaptic plasticity and cognition in middle-aged rats

Overall dietary energy intake, particularly the consumption of simple sugars such as fructose, has been increasing steadily in Western societies, but the effects of such diets on the brain are poorly understood. Here, we used functional and structural assays to characterize the effects of excessive...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Hippocampus 2008-11, Vol.18 (11), p.1085-1088
Main Authors: Stranahan, Alexis M., Norman, Eric D., Lee, Kim, Cutler, Roy G., Telljohann, Richard S., Egan, Josephine M., Mattson, Mark P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
BDNF
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor - metabolism
Cognition - physiology
diabetes
Diet
Dietary Carbohydrates - adverse effects
Dietary Fats - adverse effects
Fluorescent Antibody Technique
high-fat diet
hippocampus
Hippocampus - metabolism
Hippocampus - physiopathology
Insulin Resistance - physiology
Neuronal Plasticity - physiology
obesity
Rats
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Summary:Overall dietary energy intake, particularly the consumption of simple sugars such as fructose, has been increasing steadily in Western societies, but the effects of such diets on the brain are poorly understood. Here, we used functional and structural assays to characterize the effects of excessive caloric intake on the hippocampus, a brain region important for learning and memory. Rats fed with a high‐fat, high‐glucose diet supplemented with high‐fructose corn syrup showed alterations in energy and lipid metabolism similar to clinical diabetes, with elevated fasting glucose and increased cholesterol and triglycerides. Rats maintained on this diet for 8 months exhibited impaired spatial learning ability, reduced hippocampal dendritic spine density, and reduced long‐term potentiation at Schaffer collateral—CA1 synapses. These changes occurred concurrently with reductions in levels of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor in the hippocampus. We conclude that a high‐calorie diet reduces hippocampal synaptic plasticity and impairs cognitive function, possibly through BDNF‐mediated effects on dendritic spines. Published 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
ISSN:1050-9631
1098-1063
DOI:10.1002/hipo.20470