Neurometabolic effects of sweetened solution intake during adolescence related to depressive-like phenotype in rats.
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2020
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Objective: Exposure to artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, during childhood and adolescence has been
increasing in recent years. However, the safe use of aspartame has been questioned owing to its potentially
harmful effects on the developing brain. The aim of this study was to test whether the chronic consumption
of aspartame during adolescence leads to a depressive-like phenotype and to investigate the possible mecha-
nisms underlying these behavioral changes.
Methods: Adolescent male and female rats were given unlimited access to either water, solutions of aspar-
tame, or sucrose in their home cages from postnatal day 21 to 55.
Results: Forced swim test revealed that both chronic aspartame and sucrose intake induced depressive-like
behaviord, which was more pronounced in males. Additionally, repeated aspartame intake was associated with
increased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) aspartate levels, decreased hippocampal neurogenesis, and reduced
activation of the hippocampal leptin signaling pathways in males. In females, we observed a main
effect of aspartame: reducing PI3K/AKT one of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor pathways; aspar-
tame also increased CSF aspartate levels and decreased the immunocontent of the GluN2A subunit of
the N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor.
Conclusion: The findings revealed that repeated aspartame intake during adolescence is associated with a
depressive-like phenotype and changes in brain plasticity. Interestingly, males appear to be more vulnerable
to the adverse neurometabolic effects of aspartame than females, demonstrating a sexually dimorphic
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Artificial sweetener, Aspartame, Early life environment, Mood disorders, Dentate gyrus
Citação
ARCEGO, D. M. et al. Neurometabolic effects of sweetened solution intake during adolescence related to depressive-like phenotype in rats. Nutrition, artigo 110770, p. 75-76, jul./ago. 2020. Disponível em: <https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0899900720300538?via%3Dihub>. Acesso em: 11 out. 2022.