Dietary magnesium deficiency induces the expression of neuroinflammation-related genes in mouse brain

Neuropsychopharmacol Rep. 2021 Jun;41(2):230-236. doi: 10.1002/npr2.12167. Epub 2021 Mar 6.

Abstract

Aims: Dietary Mg2+ deficiency (MgD) impairs hippocampus-dependent memory in mice; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying MgD-induced memory impairments are unclear. Here, we investigated the molecular signatures in the hippocampus of MgD mice by analyzing the hippocampal transcriptome.

Methods: We performed RNA-sequencing of the hippocampal transcriptome of MgD mice. We used gene ontology analyses and quantitative real-time PCR to validate the RNA-sequencing results.

Results: mRNAs for neuroinflammation-related genes were upregulated in the hippocampus and cortex of MgD mice.

Conclusion: MgD induces neuroinflammation in the mouse brain, including the hippocampus and cortex. Our findings suggest that MgD-induced neuroinflammation triggers the impairments of hippocampus-dependent memory.

Keywords: hippocampus-dependent memory; magnesium deficiency; microglia; neuroinflammation; transcriptome.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Hippocampus
  • Magnesium Deficiency* / complications
  • Magnesium Deficiency* / genetics
  • Memory Disorders
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Neuroinflammatory Diseases