EFSD/Lilly European Diabetes Research Programm 2019 (DSB.AD006.292)

Thematic area

Biomedical sciences

Project area

Structure responsible for the research project

Institute of clinical physiology (IFC)

Project manager

AMALIA GASTALDELLI
Phone number: +390503152216
Email: amalia@ifc.cnr.it

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder, whose
incidence has doubled worldwide in the last decades, becoming one of the
most severe public health issues. T2D patients generally develop
multisystem complications, including deficit in cognitive function and
neurophysiological changes. Despite this evidence, the mechanisms
underlying alterations in neural function and plasticity during T2D are
mainly unexplored. Intermittent fasting (IF) has been described as an
alternative to caloric restriction diets to lose weight and promote insulin
sensitivity. Intriguingly, in rodents IF enhances brain function, as indicated
by improvements in performance on behavioral tests; although the IF
mediators are mainly unknown. Intriguingly, ketone bodies (i.e. betahydroxybutyrate BHB) seem to be good candidates based on their
multifaceted roles. Here, using the db/db mouse (B6.BKS(D)-Leprdb/J), a
classic T2D preclinical model, and the wt littermate as a control, we will
explore the effects of T2D on cortical and hippocampal plasticity,
respectively through intrinsic optical imaging of visual cortical function and
spatial memory performance assessment. Mice will be subjected to I

Goals

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder, whose
incidence has doubled worldwide in the last decades, becoming one of the
most severe public health issues. T2D patients generally develop
multisystem complications, including deficit in cognitive function and
neurophysiological changes. Despite this evidence, the mechanisms
underlying alterations in neural function and plasticity during T2D are
mainly unexplored. Intermittent fasting (IF) has been described as an
alternative to caloric restriction diets to lose weight and promote insulin
sensitivity. Intriguingly, in rodents IF enhances brain function, as indicated
by improvements in performance on behavioral tests; although the IF
mediators are mainly unknown. Intriguingly, ketone bodies (i.e. betahydroxybutyrate BHB) seem to be good candidates based on their
multifaceted roles. Here, using the db/db mouse (B6.BKS(D)-Leprdb/J), a
classic T2D preclinical model, and the wt littermate as a control, we will
explore the effects of T2D on cortical and hippocampal plasticity,
respectively through intrinsic optical imaging of visual cortical function and
spatial memory performance assessment. Mice will be subjected to I

Start date of activity

01/09/2020

Keywords

Brain Metabolism, Ketone bodies, Lipidome

Last update: 18/05/2025