title: Obesity accelerates cognitive decline by aggravating mitochondrial dysfunction, insulin resistance and synaptic dysfunction under estrogen-deprived conditions.
abstract: Chronic consumption of a high-fat diet (HF) causes peripheral insulin resistance, brain insulin resistance, brain mitochondrial dysfunction and cognitive impairment. Estrogen deprivation has also been found to impair cognition. However, the combined effect of both conditions on the brain is unclear. We hypothesized that estrogen deprivation causes brain insulin resistance, brain mitochondrial dysfunction, hippocampal synaptic dysfunction and cognitive impairment, and that consumption of a HF accelerates these impairments in an estrogen-deprived condition. Seventy-two female rats were divided into sham (S) and ovariectomized (O) groups. Rats in each group were further divided into two subgroups to be fed with either a normal diet (ND) or HF for 4, 8 and 12 weeks. At the end of each period, the Morris water maze test was carried out, after which the blood and brain were collected for metabolic and brain function analysis. Obesity, peripheral insulin resistance, increased brain oxidative stress and hippocampal synaptic dysfunction were observed at the eighth week in the NDO, HFS and HFO rats. However, these impairments were worse in the HFO rats. Interestingly, brain insulin resistance, brain mitochondrial dysfunction and cognitive impairment developed earlier (week eight) in the HFO rats, whereas these conditions were observed later at week 12 in the NDO and HFS rats. Either estrogen deprivation or HF appears to cause peripheral insulin resistance, increased brain oxidative stress, hippocampal synaptic dysfunction, brain mitochondrial dysfunction and brain insulin resistance, which together can lead to cognitive impairment. A HF accelerates and aggravates these deleterious effects under estrogen-deprived conditions.
authors.affiliation: Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Wasana
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pratchayasakul
authors.affiliation: Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Piangkwan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sa-Nguanmoo
authors.affiliation: Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Sivaporn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sivasinprasasn
authors.affiliation: Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Hiranya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pintana
authors.affiliation: Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Rungroj
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tawinvisan
authors.affiliation: Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Jirapas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sripetchwandee
authors.affiliation: Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Sirinart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumfu
authors.affiliation: Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Nipon
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chattipakorn
authors.affiliation: Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Science, Faculty of Dentistry, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand. Electronic address: siriporn.c@cmu.ac.th.
authors.forename: Siriporn C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chattipakorn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D004967:Estrogens / Q000172:deficiency*; D005260:Female; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens
keywords: Brain insulin sensitivity; Estrogen deprivation; High-fat diet; Hippocampal synaptic function; Mitochondrial function