Sexually Dimorphic Effects of a Western Diet on Brain Mitochondrial Bioenergetics and Neurocognitive Function
A Western diet (WD), high in sugars and saturated fats, impairs learning and memory function and contributes to weight gain. Mitochondria in the brain provide energy for neurocognitive function and may play a role in body weight regulation. We sought to determine whether a WD alters behavior and met...
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| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/12/4222 |
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| author | Magen N. Lord Jun-Won Heo Albino G. Schifino Jessica R. Hoffman Kristen N. Donohue Jarrod A. Call Emily E. Noble |
| author_facet | Magen N. Lord Jun-Won Heo Albino G. Schifino Jessica R. Hoffman Kristen N. Donohue Jarrod A. Call Emily E. Noble |
| author_sort | Magen N. Lord |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A Western diet (WD), high in sugars and saturated fats, impairs learning and memory function and contributes to weight gain. Mitochondria in the brain provide energy for neurocognitive function and may play a role in body weight regulation. We sought to determine whether a WD alters behavior and metabolic outcomes in male and female rodents through impacting hippocampal and hypothalamic mitochondrial bioenergetics. Results revealed a sexually dimorphic macronutrient preference, where males on the WD consumed a greater percentage of calories from fat/protein and females consumed a greater percentage of calories from a sugar-sweetened beverage. Both males and females on a WD gained body fat and showed impaired glucose tolerance when compared to same-sex controls. Males on a WD demonstrated impaired hippocampal functioning and an elevated tendency toward a high membrane potential in hippocampal mitochondria. Comprehensive bioenergetics analysis of WD effects in the hypothalamus revealed a tissue-specific adaption, where males on the WD oxidized more fat, and females oxidized more fat and carbohydrates at peak energy demand compared to same-sex controls. These results suggest that adult male rats show a susceptibility toward hippocampal dysfunction on a WD, and that hypothalamic mitochondrial bioenergetics are altered by WD in a sex-specific manner. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:24:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-88c00b823460468390bfbba410db61fb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:24:31Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-88c00b823460468390bfbba410db61fb2023-11-23T09:54:41ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432021-11-011312422210.3390/nu13124222Sexually Dimorphic Effects of a Western Diet on Brain Mitochondrial Bioenergetics and Neurocognitive FunctionMagen N. Lord0Jun-Won Heo1Albino G. Schifino2Jessica R. Hoffman3Kristen N. Donohue4Jarrod A. Call5Emily E. Noble6Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USADepartment of Kinesiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USADepartment of Kinesiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USADepartment of Nutritional Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USADepartment of Nutritional Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USADepartment of Kinesiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USADepartment of Nutritional Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USAA Western diet (WD), high in sugars and saturated fats, impairs learning and memory function and contributes to weight gain. Mitochondria in the brain provide energy for neurocognitive function and may play a role in body weight regulation. We sought to determine whether a WD alters behavior and metabolic outcomes in male and female rodents through impacting hippocampal and hypothalamic mitochondrial bioenergetics. Results revealed a sexually dimorphic macronutrient preference, where males on the WD consumed a greater percentage of calories from fat/protein and females consumed a greater percentage of calories from a sugar-sweetened beverage. Both males and females on a WD gained body fat and showed impaired glucose tolerance when compared to same-sex controls. Males on a WD demonstrated impaired hippocampal functioning and an elevated tendency toward a high membrane potential in hippocampal mitochondria. Comprehensive bioenergetics analysis of WD effects in the hypothalamus revealed a tissue-specific adaption, where males on the WD oxidized more fat, and females oxidized more fat and carbohydrates at peak energy demand compared to same-sex controls. These results suggest that adult male rats show a susceptibility toward hippocampal dysfunction on a WD, and that hypothalamic mitochondrial bioenergetics are altered by WD in a sex-specific manner.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/12/4222mitochondrial respirationmetabolic flexibilityhippocampuslearning and memoryobesity |
| spellingShingle | Magen N. Lord Jun-Won Heo Albino G. Schifino Jessica R. Hoffman Kristen N. Donohue Jarrod A. Call Emily E. Noble Sexually Dimorphic Effects of a Western Diet on Brain Mitochondrial Bioenergetics and Neurocognitive Function Nutrients mitochondrial respiration metabolic flexibility hippocampus learning and memory obesity |
| title | Sexually Dimorphic Effects of a Western Diet on Brain Mitochondrial Bioenergetics and Neurocognitive Function |
| title_full | Sexually Dimorphic Effects of a Western Diet on Brain Mitochondrial Bioenergetics and Neurocognitive Function |
| title_fullStr | Sexually Dimorphic Effects of a Western Diet on Brain Mitochondrial Bioenergetics and Neurocognitive Function |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sexually Dimorphic Effects of a Western Diet on Brain Mitochondrial Bioenergetics and Neurocognitive Function |
| title_short | Sexually Dimorphic Effects of a Western Diet on Brain Mitochondrial Bioenergetics and Neurocognitive Function |
| title_sort | sexually dimorphic effects of a western diet on brain mitochondrial bioenergetics and neurocognitive function |
| topic | mitochondrial respiration metabolic flexibility hippocampus learning and memory obesity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/12/4222 |
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