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Body Composition and Metabolic Caging Analysis in High Fat Fed Mice
Published on: May 24, 2018
Dopamine transporter and D2 receptor binding densities in mice prone or resistant to chronic high fat diet-induced
Xu-Feng Huang1, Katerina Zavitsanou, Xin Huang
1Department of Biomedical Science, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
Abstract:
This study examined the density of dopamine transporter (DAT) and D2 receptors in the brains of chronic high-fat diet-induced obese (cDIO), obese-resistant (cDR) and low-fat-fed (LF) control mice. Significantly decreased DAT densities were observed in cDR mice compared to cDIO and LF mice, primarily in the nucleus accumbens, striatal and hypothalamic regions. D2 receptor density was significantly lower in the rostral part of caudate putamen in cDIO mice compared to cDR and LF mice.
Insights
Obesity alters brain dopamine transporter (DAT) and D2 receptor densities. Obese-resistant mice showed lower DAT, while obese mice had reduced D2 receptors in specific brain regions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Metabolic Research
- Dietary Impact on Brain Chemistry
Background:
- Obesity is linked to neurochemical alterations.
- Dopamine transporter (DAT) and D2 receptors play roles in reward pathways and appetite regulation.
- Diet-induced obesity models are crucial for understanding these changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the density of DAT and D2 receptors in different brain regions of mice subjected to chronic high-fat diets.
- To compare neurochemical profiles between obese (cDIO), obese-resistant (cDR), and control (LF) mice.
Main Methods:
- Utilized positron emission tomography (PET) or autoradiography to quantify DAT and D2 receptor densities.
- Compared receptor densities across three groups: chronic high-fat diet-induced obese (cDIO), obese-resistant (cDR), and low-fat-fed (LF) control mice.
- Focused analysis on key brain regions including the nucleus accumbens, striatum, hypothalamus, and caudate putamen.
Main Results:
- Significantly decreased DAT densities were observed in obese-resistant (cDR) mice compared to both obese (cDIO) and control (LF) mice.
- These DAT reductions were prominent in the nucleus accumbens, striatal, and hypothalamic regions.
- D2 receptor density was significantly lower in the rostral caudate putamen of obese (cDIO) mice when compared to obese-resistant (cDR) and control (LF) mice.
Conclusions:
- Chronic high-fat feeding differentially impacts dopamine system components in obese versus obese-resistant phenotypes.
- Reduced DAT availability in obese-resistant mice may indicate compensatory mechanisms or distinct neurobiological pathways.
- Altered D2 receptor density in obese mice suggests disruptions in reward signaling pathways contributing to the obese state.
