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Chronic high-fat diet increases acute neuroendocrine stress response independently of prenatal dexamethasone treatment in male rats

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 June 2013

Anders Abildgaard ,
Sten Lund  and
Karin S Hougaard
Anders Abildgaard*
Affiliation:
Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Aarhus University, Risskov, Denmark
Sten Lund
Affiliation:
Medical Department MEA (endocrinology), Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
Karin S Hougaard
Affiliation:
National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark
*
Anders Abildgaard, Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Aarhus University Hospital, Risskov, Skovagervej 2, 8240 Risskov, Denmark. Tel: +45 7847 1291;Fax: +45 7847 1108; E-mail: anders@dadlnet.dk
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Abstract

Objective

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) has been associated with metabolic disorders later in life such as obesity and diabetes as well as psychiatric disorders such as depression and schizophrenia. Therefore, we wanted to investigate whether behavioural, metabolic or neuroendocrine abnormalities could be provoked or exacerbated by a high-fat diet (HFD) in an experimental model of IUGR.

Methods

Pregnant dams were exposed to dexamethasone (DEX) in the third gestational week to induce IUGR. Late adolescent male offspring of DEX- and vehicle-treated dams were then fed a HFD or standard chow for 8 weeks and subjected to a variety of assessments.

Results

Only diet affected the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis stress response, as HFD doubled the observed corticosterone levels following acute restraint. HFD and prenatal DEX exposure concomitantly exacerbated depressive-like behaviour in the forced swim test, even though no interaction was seen. Prenatal DEX treatment tended to increase the basal acoustic startle response (ASR), while an interaction between HFD and DEX was present in the ASR pre-pulse inhibition suggestive of fundamental changes in neuronal gating mechanisms. Metabolic parameters were only affected by diet, as HFD increased fasting glucose and insulin levels.

Conclusion

We conclude that chronic HFD may be more important in programming of the HPA axis stress responsiveness than an adverse foetal environment and therefore potentially implies an increased risk for developing psychiatric and metabolic disease.

Keywords

depressive disorderdiethigh-fatIUGRmodelanimalsstressphysiological
Type
Original Articles
Information
Acta Neuropsychiatrica , Volume 26 , Issue 1 , February 2014 , pp. 8 - 18
Copyright
Copyright © Scandinavian College of Neuropsychopharmacology 2013 

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