EFFECTS OF ENRICHED ENVIRONMENT ON METABOLIC AND NEUROCOGNITIVE PARAMETERS IN AN EXPERIMENTAL DIABETES MODEL

DIAZ-GEREVINI GT; CAMPANELLA C; LOPEZ CB; PIGINO BRUNO G; PRIOTTO S; REPOSSI G

Bruselas

Congreso; IDF Virtual Congress 2021; 2021

International Diabetes Federation

BackgroundIn diabetes, the pathophysiological mechanisms that damage the central nervous system are not yet fully understood. In this trial, the effect of an enriched environment was studied, in which animals perform more physical activity and have greater environmental diversity compared to standard animal cages.AimTo determine the effect of an enriched environment on metabolic and histological markers and neurocognitive performance in an experimental model of diabetes.MethodWere tested 60 adult Wistar strain male rats, 12 months old at the beginning of the study. Experimental design is detailed in Table 1. The enriched environment used in this study corresponds to a model published by Dorfman et al.Parameters analyzed:1.Body weight. 2.Fasting glycemia: it was measured monthly. 3.HbA1c: measured by HPLC. A cut-off point of 6.5 mg/dl was considered. 4.Blood lipids: total cholesterol and triglyceridemia were determined with photocolorimetric kits. 5.Neurocognitive tests: A) Hole Board Test: movement time is determined, number of times the head is put into the holes (head deep) and rearing. B) Eight-branch maze: resolution time is measured. C) Suspension of the tail: The time is measured until the animal remains immobile.At the end of the test, the brain and optic nerves were extracted, fixed and processed for electron or optical microscopy. The data obtained in the assay was analyzed by ANOVA, p≤0.05.[ Table Removed ]ResultsAnimals on the HFD diet showed elevated weight (535, 640 and 550 g respectively) and blood glucose (≥125 mg/dl) at the end of the trial compared to Control (419.8 g; ≥100 mg/dl) and Enviroment enriched group (411.5 g, 119.67 mg/dl). All the animals consuming HFD and / or Alcohol showed significantly high HbA1c values ​​(≥6.5%) from the 6th month of the trial.In the animals with HFD, elevated triglyceridemias (≥150 mg/dl) and cholesterolemias (≥200 mg/dl) were found, however triglyceride levels were normal (141.17 mg/dl) in the enriched environment group and the cholesterol in the Alc group (101.75 mg/dl). In the Control group, blood lipid values ​​were normal (Trigl: 105.6 and Col: 79.2) until the end of the trial. Neurocognitive test: a worse performance due to aging was observed in all animals. At end of trial Control group showed the best performance in all tests.Thickness of the hippocampus was found to be decreased in the HFD (14µm), Alc (15µm) and HFD+Alc (16 µm) groups, and compared to the Control (20 µm) and Enviroment enriched group (19 µm). Myelin and mitochondria alterations were found in optical nerve.DiscussionThe rats kept in an enriched environment showed better values in the parameters analyzed than the other diabetic groups.ReferencesDíaz-Gerevini GT, Daín A, Pasqualini ME, López CB, Eynard AR, Repossi G. Diabetic encephalopathy: beneficial effects of supplementation with fatty acids ω3 and nordihydroguaiaretic acid in a spontaneous diabetes rat model. Lipids in Health and Disease; 18(1):43 , 2019. doi: 10.1186/s12944-018-0938-7Dorfman D, Aranda ML, González Fleitas MF, Chianelli MS, Fernandez DC, Sande PH, and Rosenstein RE. Environmental Enrichment Protects the Retina from Early Diabetic Damage in Adult Rats. PLoS One. 2014; 9: e101829Valkanova V, Filippini N, Mahmood A, Fooks P, Singh-Manoux A, Mackay CE, Kivimäki M, EbmeierKP. Moderate alcohol consumption as risk factor for adverse brain outcomes and cognitive decline: longitudinal cohort study BMJ 2017; 357