Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2025

Palatable Western-style Cafeteria Diet as a Reliable Method for Modeling Diet-induced Obesity in Rodents
Published on: November 1, 2019
High-carbohydrate and fat diet consumption causes metabolic deterioration, neuronal damage, and loss of recognition
Estefania Fuentes1, Berenice Venegas2, Guadalupe Muñoz-Arenas1
1Faculty of Chemical Sciences, Benemerita Autonomous University of Puebla, Puebla, Pue., Mexico.
Abstract:
The number of people diagnosed with metabolic syndrome (MetS) has increased dramatically to reach alarming proportions worldwide. The origin of MetS derives from bad eating habits and sedentary lifestyle. Most people consume foods high in carbohydrates and saturated fat. In recent years, it has been reported that alterations in insulin at the brain level could have an impact on the appearance of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, dementia, depression, and other types of disorders that compromise brain function. These alterations have been associated with damage to the structure and function of neurons located in the reptilian and limbic systems, a decrease in dendritic arborization and an exacerbated inflammatory state that impaired learning and memory and increased in the state of stress and anxiety. Although the molecular mechanisms induced by MetS to cause neurodegeneration are not fully understood. The aim of this study is to know the effect of the intake of hypercaloric diets on the structure and function of neurons located in the frontal cortex, hypothalamus and hippocampus and its impact on behavior in rats with metabolic syndrome. In conclusion, the present study illustrated that chronic exposure to hypercaloric diets, with a high content of sugars and saturated fatty acids, induces a proinflammatory state and exacerbates oxidative stress in brain regions such as the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and frontal cortex, leading to dysfunction. metabolism, neuronal damage, and recognition memory loss.

