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Mezo-González CE, García-Santillán JA, Kaeffer B, Gourdel M, Croyal M, Bolaños-Jiménez F. Adult rats sired by obese fathers present learning deficits associated with epigenetic and neurochemical alterations linked to impaired brain glutamatergic signaling. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2024; 240:e14090. [PMID: 38230587 DOI: 10.1111/apha.14090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
AIM Offspring of obese mothers are at high risk of developing metabolic syndrome and cognitive disabilities. Impaired metabolism has also been reported in the offspring of obese fathers. However, whether brain function can also be affected by paternal obesity has barely been examined. This study aimed to characterize the learning deficits resulting from paternal obesity versus those induced by maternal obesity and to identify the underlying mechanisms. METHODS Founder control and obese female and male Wistar rats were mated to constitute three first-generation (F1) experimental groups: control mother/control father, obese mother/control father, and obese father/control mother. All F1 animals were weaned onto standard chow and underwent a learning test at 4 months of age, after which several markers of glutamate-mediated synaptic plasticity together with the expression of miRNAs targeting glutamate receptors and the concentration of kynurenic and quinolinic acids were quantified in the hippocampus and frontal cortex. RESULTS Maternal obesity induced a severe learning deficit by impairing memory encoding and memory consolidation. The offspring of obese fathers also showed reduced memory encoding but not impaired long-term memory formation. Memory deficits in offspring of obese fathers and obese mothers were associated with a down-regulation of genes encoding NMDA glutamate receptors subunits and several learning-related genes along with impaired expression of miR-296 and miR-146b and increased concentration of kynurenic acid. CONCLUSION Paternal and maternal obesity impair offspring's learning abilities by affecting different processes of memory formation. These cognitive deficits are associated with epigenetic and neurochemical alterations leading to impaired glutamate-mediated synaptic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Bertrad Kaeffer
- UMR Physiologie des Adaptations Nutritionnelles, INRAE - Nantes Université, Nantes, France
| | - Mathilde Gourdel
- CRNH-O Mass Spectrometry Core Facility, Nantes, France
- CNRS, INSERM, L'institut du Thorax, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
- CHU Nantes, INSERM, CNRS, SFR Santé, INSERM UMS 016, CNRS UMS 3556, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Mikaël Croyal
- CRNH-O Mass Spectrometry Core Facility, Nantes, France
- CNRS, INSERM, L'institut du Thorax, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
- CHU Nantes, INSERM, CNRS, SFR Santé, INSERM UMS 016, CNRS UMS 3556, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
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Farber C, Renteria K, Ritter J, Muraida JD, Rivers C, McKenzie A, Zhu J, Koh GY, Lane MA. Comparison of maternal versus postweaning ingestion of a high fat, high sucrose diet on depression-related behavior, novelty reactivity, and corticosterone levels in young, adult rat offspring. Behav Brain Res 2023; 455:114677. [PMID: 37734488 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
Consumption of a Western-type diet, high in fat and sugar, by mothers as well as maternal weight gain and obesity during gestation and lactation may impact offspring risk for mood and cognitive disorders. The objective of this study was to determine if ingestion of a high fat, high sucrose (HFS) diet by rat dams during gestation and lactation or by their pups after weaning impacted these behaviors and stress responsivity in young, adult offspring. To accomplish this, dams consumed either a 45% fat/high sucrose (HFS) diet or the AIN93G control diet during gestation and lactation. At weaning, pups from dams that consumed the HFS diet were weaned to the control diet. Pups from dams assigned to the control diet were weaned to either the control or HFS diet. Pup behavioral testing began at 10 weeks of age. Pups whose dams consumed the HFS diet during gestation and lactation exhibited increased depression-related behavior and baseline serum corticosterone levels, but no difference in peak levels in response to stress. Male pups of these dams displayed increased working memory during acquisition of the holeboard task and tended to exhibit more anxiety-related behavior in the elevated O-maze test. Regardless of when consumed, the HFS diet increased novelty reactivity in the open field test. These data indicate that diet but not maternal weight gain during gestation impacts offspring behavior and elevates stress hormone levels. Also, regardless of when consumed, the HFS diet increases novelty reactivity, a risk factor for depression and addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Farber
- Nutrition and Foods Program, School of Family and Consumer Sciences, Texas State University, 601 University Dr., San Marcos, TX 78666, United States
| | - Karisa Renteria
- Nutrition and Foods Program, School of Family and Consumer Sciences, Texas State University, 601 University Dr., San Marcos, TX 78666, United States
| | - Jordan Ritter
- Nutrition and Foods Program, School of Family and Consumer Sciences, Texas State University, 601 University Dr., San Marcos, TX 78666, United States
| | - J D Muraida
- Nutrition and Foods Program, School of Family and Consumer Sciences, Texas State University, 601 University Dr., San Marcos, TX 78666, United States
| | - Carley Rivers
- Nutrition and Foods Program, School of Family and Consumer Sciences, Texas State University, 601 University Dr., San Marcos, TX 78666, United States
| | - Avery McKenzie
- Nutrition and Foods Program, School of Family and Consumer Sciences, Texas State University, 601 University Dr., San Marcos, TX 78666, United States
| | - Jie Zhu
- Nutrition and Foods Program, School of Family and Consumer Sciences, Texas State University, 601 University Dr., San Marcos, TX 78666, United States
| | - Gar Yee Koh
- Nutrition and Foods Program, School of Family and Consumer Sciences, Texas State University, 601 University Dr., San Marcos, TX 78666, United States
| | - Michelle A Lane
- Nutrition and Foods Program, School of Family and Consumer Sciences, Texas State University, 601 University Dr., San Marcos, TX 78666, United States.
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