Evaluating Telmisartan's Impact on Metabolic Health and Cognitive Function in Mice Subjected to a High-Fat Diet
Abstract
A high-fat diet can induce metabolic syndrome, a group of risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes. In turn, metabolic diseases increase the likelihood of developing neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders (e.g. dementia, anxiety, and depression). While telmisartan, an ARB (angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker), is known to treat hypertension, it can also reduce weight gain, while improving dyslipidemia and glucose metabolism in male mice fed a high-fat diet. However, it is unknown whether telmisartan can reverse behavioral changes caused by a high-fat diet. This study assesses the effects of treatment with telmisartan on metabolic outcomes and cognitive-behavioral function, including determining whether these occur in a dose- and sex-dependent manner. Male and female mice were provided a low-fat or high-fat diet from 3-9 months of age. A subset of mice on high-fat diet were treated with a low (1 mg/kg/day) or high (5 mg/kg/day) dosage of telmisartan the last two months of high-fat diet. Behavioral testing was conducted to determine exploratory activity, anxiety-like behavior, and cognition. Treatment with high dose telmisartan significantly decreased body weight and systolic blood pressure in male and female mice fed a high-fat diet, although fasting blood glucose levels were unaffected. High dose telmisartan also improved spatial working memory in the y-maze, and performance in early trials of the Barnes maze, in males. Whereas in females, a low dose, but not a high dose of telmisartan increased exploratory behavior in the y-maze and enhanced performance in early trials of the Barnes maze.
(We acknowledge NIH, grant # 1T34GM145509 for partial support of this research.)
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Robert C. Speth, Dr. Lisa Robinson
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
4-3-2024 12:30 PM
End Date
4-4-2024 1:30 PM
Evaluating Telmisartan's Impact on Metabolic Health and Cognitive Function in Mice Subjected to a High-Fat Diet
Alvin Sherman Library
A high-fat diet can induce metabolic syndrome, a group of risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes. In turn, metabolic diseases increase the likelihood of developing neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders (e.g. dementia, anxiety, and depression). While telmisartan, an ARB (angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker), is known to treat hypertension, it can also reduce weight gain, while improving dyslipidemia and glucose metabolism in male mice fed a high-fat diet. However, it is unknown whether telmisartan can reverse behavioral changes caused by a high-fat diet. This study assesses the effects of treatment with telmisartan on metabolic outcomes and cognitive-behavioral function, including determining whether these occur in a dose- and sex-dependent manner. Male and female mice were provided a low-fat or high-fat diet from 3-9 months of age. A subset of mice on high-fat diet were treated with a low (1 mg/kg/day) or high (5 mg/kg/day) dosage of telmisartan the last two months of high-fat diet. Behavioral testing was conducted to determine exploratory activity, anxiety-like behavior, and cognition. Treatment with high dose telmisartan significantly decreased body weight and systolic blood pressure in male and female mice fed a high-fat diet, although fasting blood glucose levels were unaffected. High dose telmisartan also improved spatial working memory in the y-maze, and performance in early trials of the Barnes maze, in males. Whereas in females, a low dose, but not a high dose of telmisartan increased exploratory behavior in the y-maze and enhanced performance in early trials of the Barnes maze.
(We acknowledge NIH, grant # 1T34GM145509 for partial support of this research.)
