A high-salt/high fat diet alters circadian locomotor activity and glucocorticoid synthesis in mice

PLoS One. 2020 May 21;15(5):e0233386. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0233386. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Salt is an essential nutrient; however, excessive salt intake is a prominent public health concern worldwide. Various physiological functions are associated with circadian rhythms, and disruption of circadian rhythms is a prominent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and immune disease. Certain nutrients are vital regulators of peripheral circadian clocks. However, the role of a high-fat and high-salt (HFS) diet in the regulation of circadian gene expression is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of an HFS diet on rhythms of locomotor activity, caecum glucocorticoid secretion, and clock gene expression in mice. Mice administered an HFS diet displayed reduced locomotor activity under normal light/dark and constant dark conditions in comparison with those administered a normal diet. The diurnal rhythm of caecum glucocorticoid secretion and the expression levels of glucocorticoid-related genes and clock genes in the adrenal gland were disrupted with an HFS diet. These results suggest that an HFS diet alters locomotor activity, disrupts circadian rhythms of glucocorticoid secretion, and downregulates peripheral adrenal gland circadian clock genes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Glands / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Circadian Clocks / physiology
  • Circadian Rhythm / physiology*
  • Diet, High-Fat*
  • Glucocorticoids / biosynthesis*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Motor Activity / physiology*
  • Period Circadian Proteins / genetics
  • Period Circadian Proteins / metabolism
  • Sodium Chloride, Dietary*

Substances

  • Glucocorticoids
  • Period Circadian Proteins
  • Sodium Chloride, Dietary

Grants and funding

This study was supported in part by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Numbers JP16H05292 to MW; JP17K12911 and JP19K11751 to YY; and Program for the Advancement of Research in Core Projects in the Longevity Initiative at Keio University Global Research Institute from Keio University to MW and KT.