Objective: To investigate the effect of perinatal high fat diet on spatial learning and memory in adult Kunming (KM) mice offspring.
Methods: The adult female KM mice were randomly divided into control and high fat group, fed with lab chow and high fat diet (containing 20% of lard) during gestation and lactation periods. After weaning at 4 weeks old, 10 offspring mice randomly selected from control group, as control continuing (CC) group, were fed with lab chow. 10 mice, as high fat continuing (FF) group, from high fat group were fed with high fat diet. 10 mice, as transforming high fat (FC) group, were fed with lab chow. Then, Morris water maze task was applied to evaluate spatial learning and memory in the pups. The body weight and the mass of visceral fat and brain were weighted, and the level of serum leptin was measured through ELISA.
Results: Latency of FF and FC groups were shorter than CC group (P < 0.05), and the crossing times of FC group was more than CC group. The weights, the mass of visceral fat and brain of FF and FC groups were heavier than those of control group (P < 0.05). The level of serum leptin of FF group was higher than CC group (P <0. 05).
Conclusion: Maternal high fat diet during pregnancy and lactation may contribute to better spatial learning and memory ability in adult mice offspring.