Neuroendocrinology and Neuroimmunology
Author: Guillermina Canesini | Email: gcanesini@fbcb.unl.edu.ar
Pamela Rocío Fernández 1°, Guillermina Canesini 1°, Rocío Schumacher 1°, Luisa Gaydou 1°, María Florencia Rossetti 1°, Ana Paula García 1°, Agustina Sabella 1°, Jorge Guillermo Ramos 1°, Cora Stoker 1°
1° Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), UNL-CONICET, Santa Fe, Argentina.
2° Cátedra de Nutrición en Situaciones Patológicas, FBCB-UNL, Santa Fe, Argentina.
3° Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica y Cuantitativa, FBCB-UNL, Santa Fe, Argentina.
4° Cátedra de Cátedra de Morfología Normal, FBCB-UNL, Santa Fe, Argentina
We analysed the impact of neonatal overfeeding and the exposure in adulthood to a cafeteria diet (CAF) on eating behaviour and on the expression of key genes of the reward dopaminergic pathway of the brain. Male Wistar rats were raised in small (4 pups/dam, SL) or normal litters (10 pups/dam, NL). From weaning to postnatal day 90 (PND90), they were fed with control diet (CON). From PND90 and for 11 weeks the animals received CON (3 kcal/g) or cafeteria diet (CAF) (4,85 kcal/g) (NL-CON, NL-CAF, SL-CON, SL-CAF; 10-14 rats/group). Body weight and food intake were recorded weekly. Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) and Specific Sensory Satiety test (SSS) were performed. Brains, blood and fat pads were obtained. Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA), was isolated by micropunching technique. For mRNA analysis, qPCR was performed. CAF consumption increased body weight, energy intake and adiposity (p<0,001). CAF groups preferred sweet food (p<0,0001). Eating behaviour in SSS test was altered in SL-CON, NL-CAF y SL-CAF (p<0,05). EPM test results showed anxiety-related behaviour in SL-CAF (p=0,0012). In VTA, SL-CAF enhanced the expression of Tyrosine Hydroxylase (TH) and Dopamine Receptor D2 (DRD2), without altering Dopamine Receptor D1 (DRD1) and Dopamine Active Transporter (DAT) (p<0,05). We are currently studying other nuclei involved in the reward system. This work provides the first evidences that neonatal overfeeding alters eating behaviour in adult life by modifications in the hedonic system.