The Cognitive Function Of Wistar Rats Subjected To Cafeteria Diet And To Chronic Stress

Abstract

The aim of the current study is to evaluate the effect of chronic stress of obese or non-obese female rats on the cognitive function of animals. The animals were distributed in the following groups: standard diet (Std), Std+stress, cafeteria diet (Cafe) and Cafe+stress. The animals in the Std groups were fed standard rodent diet. The animals in the Cafe groups received palatable processed high-calorie foods, cola-type beverages, water and water with sucrose ad libitum, in addition to the standard diet. From the eighth experimental week on, the Std+stress and Cafe+stress groups were subjected to restraint-induced chronic stress model (50 days). Next, the animals were subjected to the object recognition test. The animals in the Std, Std+stress and Cafe+stress groups showed higher new object recognition rate in comparison to that of the familiar object (square Lego toys used during the training session of the object recognition test). Our data also shows memory improvement in the stressed animals (obese and non-obese). We observed higher N object recognition index in the Std+stress and Cafe+stress groups, in comparison to their respective controls. The study supports the hypothesis that moderate and repeated stress improves the memory of obese female Wistar rats.