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Actions of exendin-4 therapy on cognitive function and hippocampal synaptic plasticity in mice fed a high-fat diet

International Journal of Obesity volume 34, pages 1341–1344 (2010)Cite this article

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Abstract

High-calorie diet has been shown to impair learning ability and hippocampal synaptic plasticity in rodents. This study examined effects of daily treatment with the glucagon-like peptide-1 mimetic, exendin-4, on cognitive function and hippocampal synaptic plasticity in a model of diet-induced obesity, which exhibits compromised cognitive performance. Mice fed a high-fat diet were treated with exendin-4 (25 nmol kg−1 bodyweight; twice daily) or saline vehicle (0.9% (w/v) NaCl) over 21 days. In addition to improving metabolic control, exendin-4-treated mice exhibited a marked increase in recognition index highlighting improved learning and memory. High-fat diet resulted in the elimination of in vivo electrophysiological long-term potentiation, which was rescued following exendin-4 treatment. This study shows that exendin-4 therapy improves cognitive function and ameliorates impaired hippocampal synaptic plasticity in dietary-induced obesity.

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Acknowledgements

These studies were supported by University of Ulster Strategic Research Funding and the SAAD Trading and Contracting Company.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The SAAD Centre for Pharmacy and Diabetes, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK

    V A Gault, W D Porter, P R Flatt & C Hölscher

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  1. V A Gault
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  2. W D Porter
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  3. P R Flatt
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  4. C Hölscher
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Correspondence to V A Gault.

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Gault, V., Porter, W., Flatt, P. et al. Actions of exendin-4 therapy on cognitive function and hippocampal synaptic plasticity in mice fed a high-fat diet. Int J Obes 34, 1341–1344 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2010.59

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2010.59

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