Docosahexaenoic Acid Attenuates Changes in Body Mass Index, Memory Deficit and Neuro Degeneration in Young Rats Exposed to Acute Social Isolation and High Fat Diet
Abstract
The role of Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) in attenuating changes in Body Mass Index (BMI), memory deficit and neuro degeneration using rat model was studied. Post natal day 21 (n=6 rats/group), male Sprague Dawley rats were grouped as Normal control (NC), Social isolation (SI), High fat diet (HFD), Social isolation with DHA (SI+DHA) and High fat diet with DHA (HFD+DHA). After the intervention period of 45 days, T Maze Test was performed. Body weight changes and histological analysis of hippocampal CA3 subregion was analysed. Body weight and BMI were increased in SI group compared to NC and SI+DHA groups and decreased in HFD + DHA group as compared to HFD group. Time taken to enter goal arm was more in SI and HFD groups compared to SI+DHA and HFD+DHA groups. Percentage of correct goal arm chosen in SI group was more than SI+DHA and less in HFD group compared to HFD+DHA. Degenerated neural cells were increased in SI as compared to NC and lesser in SI+DHA and HFD+DHA compared to SI and HFD groups respectively. Acute social isolation and high fat diet impacts BMI, behaviour and neural cells and these changes were ameliorated with DHA
