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Intrauterine Growth Restriction Modifies the Accumbal Dopaminergic Response to Palatable Food Intake
D P Laureano1, M B Alves2, P M Miguel1
1Programa de Pós Graduação em Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Básicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Neuroscience
|January 2, 2019
Summary
Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) in rats leads to increased intake of palatable foods and altered dopamine release. Insulin treatment normalized these effects, suggesting a link between IUGR, reward pathways, and metabolic health.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Metabolic Science
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is linked to later-life preferences for palatable foods and altered insulin sensitivity.
- Insulin influences central dopaminergic activity and behavioral responses to rewards, including food.
- Understanding these neuro-metabolic links is crucial for addressing IUGR-related health issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of IUGR on dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens during palatable food consumption.
- To examine the effects of insulin administration on dopamine release and feeding behavior in IUGR rats.
- To explore the underlying molecular mechanisms, including SOCS3 and TH phosphorylation, in the IUGR model.
Main Methods:
- IUGR was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats via maternal food restriction (FR) during gestation.
- Palatable food intake and feeding behavior entropy were measured using the BioDAQ® system in adulthood.
- Dopamine release was assessed using chronoamperometry in the nucleus accumbens; Western blots analyzed VTA and NAcc protein levels.
Main Results:
- FR rats exhibited increased palatable food intake and higher feeding behavior entropy compared to controls.
- A delayed dopamine release in response to palatable food was observed in FR rats, which insulin administration reversed.
- Decreased SOCS3 in the VTA and increased pTH/TH ratio in the NAcc were found in FR rats, with insulin normalizing the latter.
Conclusions:
- IUGR in rats is associated with metabolic alterations and a delayed central dopaminergic response to palatable foods.
- These neurochemical changes may underlie the increased intake of palatable foods and behavioral entropy observed in IUGR.
- IUGR may predispose individuals to binge eating, obesity, and related metabolic disorders by modifying brain reward pathways.
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