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Diet‐dependent Plasticity of Changes in Neural Structure and Behavior
Author(s) -
Sawin Emily A,
Gonzalez Jose G,
Ong Irene M,
McIlwain Sean J,
Adluru Nagesh,
Alexander Andrew L,
Yu JohnPaul J
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.150.7
Subject(s) - white matter , transcriptome , diffusion mri , microbiome , biology , food science , biochemistry , medicine , genetics , magnetic resonance imaging , gene expression , radiology , gene
Background Dietary macronutrient composition influences gut microbiome populations and these resultant microbiome populations influence diffusion tensor measures of neural structure and white matter microstructural integrity as assessed by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Objective To determine the plasticity of the changes in neural structure and white matter microstructural integrity as previously altered of diet and gut microbiome populations. Methods Weanling male Sprague Dawley rats were randomized to one of four diets, a control diet, a high fat diet, a high fiber diet, or a high protein‐low carbohydrate diet and fed for three weeks and then crossed over to the control diet and fed for an additional 3 weeks. Behavior was assessed using an open field maze and a Y‐maze after the first 3 weeks of feeding and then again at the culmination of the study. Neural structure and white matter integrity were assessed by DTI and global transcriptomic changes were assessed with whole transcriptome shotgun sequencing (RNA‐Seq). Results Diffusion tensor imaging demonstrated diet‐dependent alterations in neural structure, organization, and white matter integrity. Significant transcriptomic changes are observed when experimental diets are compared to the control diet. Conclusion Diet‐dependent macronutrient composition and corresponding changes in the gut microbiome can influence neural structure and white matter integrity and demonstrates surprising markers of structural, behavioral, and transcriptomic plasticity.