INTERACTIVE EFFECTS OF EXERCISE TRAINING AND FLAXSEED OIL INTAKE ON HIPPOCAMPAL FUNCTION IN OBESITY

Excessive adipose tissue leading to obesity increases the risk of several comorbidities affecting different systems including the central nervous system (CNS) followed by neurodegenerative diseases onsets. A healthy diet combined with a physically active lifestyle is the main non-pharmacological intervention for the treatment/prevention of related comorbidities. However, the interactions between nutrients and exercise are poorly understood from a molecular point-of-view in the CNS of obese organisms. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the interactive effects of flaxseed oil (a plant-based omega-3 source) and exercise training (Exe) on GPR120, an omega-3 receptor, in the hippocampus of obese mice. Four-week-old, male, Swiss mice, were fed for eight weeks with a standard chow (CT-group [N=12]) or a high-fat diet (HF-group [N=48]) (31% of lard). After the obese-induced period, those on the HF diet were subdivided into four groups (N=12 each) for the next four weeks: sedentary mice (HF), chronic exercise (HF+Exe), sedentary mice with flaxseed oil (1/3 of lard substituted by flaxseed oil, HF+FS) and chronic exercise plus FS (HF+Exe+FS). Those receiving the standard chow remained sedentary (CT). The weight gain, food intake, and blood glucose were measured. At the end of the experiment, all groups were submitted to behavioral tests and then euthanized for brain dissection. The GPR120 content and its biomolecular distribution in the hippocampus were mapped. The HF successfully induced the obese phenotype and dysmetabolism. Exercise training attenuated HF outcomes regarding body weight gain; however, no interactive effects were observed with FS treatment. Changes in the animal’s behavior by treatments were mild. Interestingly, the HF increased GPR120 content in the hippocampus and was observed in the main hippocampal areas such as DG, and CA’s 1/2/3. Although no interaction between FS and exercise was observed, GPR120 might be a promising target for understanding the obesity-related CNS disturbs.