The influence of various compositions of the ketogenic diet on the behavior of selected mouse strains

INTRODUCTION: High fat diets are characterized by a high fat content with an adequate proportion of proteins and carbohydrates. For a long time, the ketogenic diet has been used in the treatment of epilepsy; however, its neuroprotective properties indicate its putative and broader application in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and neurodevelopmental disorders. AIM(S): The present study is focused on the selection of a proper animal model in the preclinical studies on ketogenic therapeutic potential. METHOD(S): The study involved 160 male mice from 129/SV and C57 BL/6 strains at the age of 9 weeks. The animals were divided into 4 groups. The control groups have been fed with a standard diet and the experimental groups were fed with three different types of a high fat diet: (A) a diet imitating a classic ketogenic diet composed mainly of saturated fats of animal origin, where the ratio of fat to carbohydrates and proteins is 4:1, (B) a diet imitating a modified ketogenic diet with a high content of unsaturated fat of vegetable origin, where the ratio of fat to carbohydrates and proteins is 4:1, or (C) a diet imitating ketogenic diet, containing fats of animal origin where the ratio of fats to carbohydrates and proteins is 6:1. On the 100th day of the experiment, the animals of all groups were subjected to motor and behavioral tests, including: an open field test, elevated plus maze, test on a raised treadmill, and a Grip Test. After testing, the animals were euthanized to collect material for further analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The collected samples will be used to determine the level of expression of selected genes and the level of neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus.