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Animal Models

Vitamin D administration, cognitive function, BBB permeability and neuroinflammatory factors in high-fat diet-induced obese rats

International Journal of Obesity volume 41, pages 639–644 (2017)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objectives:

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of vitamin D administration on cognitive function, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) concentration in the hippocampus and blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese rats.

Methods:

Male Wistar rats were fed either a control diet or HFD for 16 weeks (n=20); then, each group was randomized into two subgroups supplemented orally with 500 IU kg−1 vitamin D for 5 weeks. A Morris water maze (MWM) test was performed at the 21st week to examine cognitive function. BBB permeability was characterized by Evans blue dye in the hippocampus. BDNF and NF-κB concentrations in the hippocampus and serum vitamin D concentrations were also measured.

Results:

HFD led to a significant delay in escape latency time and reduced time of MWM probe test because of increased NF-κB and decreased BDNF concentrations in the hippocampus. Vitamin D supplementation in the HFD group significantly reduced body weight, NF-κB concentrations, BBB permeability and increased BDNF concentrations in the hippocampus.

Conclusions:

Vitamin D reversed HFD-induced cognitive impairments by reduction of the NF-κB and elevation of BDNF concentrations and modulation of the BBB permeability in rats’ hippocampus.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a grant from the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (Grant Number: TBZMED.REC.1394.784).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Community Nutrition, Nutrition Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

    G Hajiluian, G Nameni & M A Farhangi

  2. Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

    P Shahabi

  3. Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

    M Mesgari-Abbasi

  4. Neurosciences Research Center (NSRC), Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

    S Sadigh-Eteghad

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  1. G Hajiluian
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Correspondence to M A Farhangi.

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Hajiluian, G., Nameni, G., Shahabi, P. et al. Vitamin D administration, cognitive function, BBB permeability and neuroinflammatory factors in high-fat diet-induced obese rats. Int J Obes 41, 639–644 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2017.10

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