https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12088740
Abstract
We
have investigated a potential mechanism by which a diet, similar in
composition to the typical diet of most industrialized western societies
rich in saturated fat and refined sugar (HFS), can influence brain
structure and function via regulation of neurotrophins. We show that
animals that learn a spatial memory task faster have more brain-derived
neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA and protein in the hippocampus. Two
months on the HFS diet were sufficient to reduce hippocampal level of
BDNF and spatial learning performance. Consequent to the action of BDNF
on synaptic function, downstream effectors for the action of BDNF on
synaptic plasticity were reduced proportionally to BDNF levels, in the
hippocampus of rats maintained on the HFS diet between 2 and 24 months.
In particular, animals maintained on the HFS diet showed a decrease in
levels of: (i) synapsin I mRNA and protein (total and phosphorylated),
important for neurotransmitter release; (ii) cyclic AMP-response
element-binding protein (CREB) mRNA and protein (total and
phosphorylated); CREB is required for various forms of memory and is
under regulatory control of BDNF; (iii) growth-associated protein 43
mRNA, important for neurite outgrowth, neurotransmitter release, and
learning and memory. Diet-related changes were specific for the
hippocampus consequent to its role in memory formation, and did not
involve neurotrophin-3, another member of the neurotrophin family. Our
results indicate that a popularly consumed diet can influence crucial
aspects of neuronal and behavioral plasticity associated with the
function of BDNF.
- PMID:
- 12088740
- [Indexed for MEDLINE]
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