Dietary intervention rescues maternal obesity induced behavior deficits and neuroinflammation in offspring

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Biology
• Immunology

Background:

• Maternal obesity is linked to low-grade inflammation and behavioral changes.
• Prenatal insults can affect offspring neurodevelopment, potentially contributing to disorders like autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
• The specific impact of maternal obesity on offspring sociability and the efficacy of dietary interventions remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of maternal high-fat diet (HFD) on offspring behavior and brain inflammation.
• To determine if maternal dietary intervention during lactation can mitigate these effects.
• To examine sex-specific differences in offspring responses.

Main Methods:

• Mice were fed either a standard diet or an HFD during gestation and lactation.
• Offspring behavior (sociability, anxiety, hyperactivity) was assessed.
• Brain inflammation markers (IL-1β, TNFα) and microglial activation were measured.
• A dietary intervention group received a standard diet during lactation.

Main Results:

• Maternal HFD led to increased anxiety and decreased sociability in female offspring.
• Female offspring of HFD dams showed elevated brain IL-1β, TNFα, and microglial activation.
• Maternal dietary intervention during lactation reversed social deficits and brain inflammation in female offspring.
• Maternal obesity during gestation alone increased hyperactivity in male offspring, unaffected by dietary intervention.

Conclusions:

• Maternal HFD acts as a prenatal/perinatal insult affecting offspring behavior and neuroinflammation.
• Dietary intervention during lactation is a promising strategy to counteract some negative effects of maternal obesity in female offspring.
• Hyperactivity in male offspring due to maternal obesity requires different or additional interventions.