Generic placeholder image

CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1871-5273
ISSN (Online): 1996-3181

Research Article

Characterization of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Expression in Nucleus Accumbens and Hippocampus of Rats Subjected to Food Selection in the Cafeteria Diet Protocol

Author(s): Andrea Sarro-Ramírez, Daniel Sánchez, Alma Tejeda-Padrón, Linda Vianey Buenfil-Canto, Jorge Valladares-García, Elda Pacheco-Pantoja, Oscar Arias-Carrión and Eric Murillo-Rodríguez

Volume 15, Issue 7, 2016

Page: [866 - 872] Pages: 7

DOI: 10.2174/1871527315666160413161200

Price: $65

Abstract

Obesity is a world-wide health problem that requires different experimental perspectives to understand the onset of this disease, including the neurobiological basis of food selection. From a molecular perspective, obesity has been related with activity of several endogenous molecules, including the mitogenactivated protein kinases (MAP-K). The aim of this study was to characterize MAP-K expression in hedonic and learning and memory brain-associated areas such as nucleus accumbens (AcbC) and hippocampus (HIPP) after food selection. We show that animals fed with cafeteria diet during 14 days displayed an increase in p38 MAP-K activity in AcbC if chose cheese. Conversely, a diminution was observed in animals that preferred chocolate in AcbC. Also, a decrease of p38 MAP-K phosphorylation was found in HIPP in rats that selected either cheese or chocolate. Our data demonstrate a putative role of MAP-K expression in food selection. These findings advance our understanding of neuromolecular basis engaged in obesity.

Keywords: Chocolate, food selection, Hippocampus, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, western blot.

« Previous

Rights & Permissions Print Cite
© 2024 Bentham Science Publishers | Privacy Policy