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. 2024 Apr 27;21:110. doi: 10.1186/s12974-024-03104-9

Table 1.

Dietary patterns and their impacts on obesity development and BBB integrity

Strain Sex Age or
Weight
Diet Control Diet Time Methodology for BBB integrity Phenotype and Mechanism of BBB dysfunction Reference
CD-1 mice Male 8 w

Fat: 60 kcal %

Protein: 20 kcal %

Carbohydrate: 20 kcal %

(Research Diets, D12492)

Fat: 10 kcal %

Protein: 20 kcal %

Carbohydrate: 70 kcal %

(Research Diets, D12450J)

16 or 36 w Radiolabeled albumin and sucrose

Increases 99mTc-albumin in the whole brain;

Increases 14C-sucrose in hypothalamus and hippocampus;

Decreases ZO-1 and Claudin-12 protein levels in whole brain lysate;

Decreases ZO-1 and Occludin expression in hypothalamus.

[72]
C57BL/6J mice Female 6 w

Fat: 40 kcal %

Protein: 12.6 kcal %

Carbohydrate: 47.4 kcal %

(Specialty Feeds, SF07-050)

Fat: 9.4 kcal %

Protein: 14.7 kcal %

Carbohydrate: 75.9 kcal %

(American Institute of Nutrition, AIN-93 M)

10 w Immunofluorescence staining for IgG Increases extravasation of IgG in cortex and hippocampus [73]
ICR mice Male 20–25 g

Fat: 20.1 (w/w) %

Protein: 18.3 (w/w) %

Carbohydrate: 51.2 (w/w) %

Fat: 5.1 (w/w) %

Protein: 23.5 (w/w) %

Carbohydrate: 50.3 (w/w) %

8 w EB staining

Increases extravasation of EB in cortex;

Disrupts the polymerization of ZO-1 and Occludin in brain.

[74]
C57BL/6J mice Female 6 w

Fat: 40 kcal %

Protein: 12.6 kcal %

Carbohydrate: 47.4 kcal %

(Specialty Feeds, SF07-050)

Fat: 9.4 kcal %

Protein: 14.7 kcal %

Carbohydrate: 75.9 kcal %

(American Institute of Nutrition, AIN-93 M)

9 m Immunofluorescence staining for IgG and apoB Increases extravasation of IgG and apoB in cortex. [75]
C57BL/6J mice Male 12–16 w

Fat: 15.7 (w/w) %

Protein: 17.6 (w/w) %

Carbohydrate: 45.7 (w/w)

Fat: 4.5 (w/w) %

Protein: 20 (w/w) %

Carbohydrate: 52 (w/w) %

8 w TMR-conjugated dextran and EB leakage

Increases leakage of dextran around microvessles in cortex;

Increases extravasation of EB in brain.

Decreases the protein levels of ZO-1, Occludin and claudin-5 in isolated brain vessels.

[77]
Sprague-Dawley albino rats Male 60 d

Fat: 40 kcal %

Protein: 21 kcal %

Carbohydrate: 38 kcal %

(Harlan Teklad, TD.04489)

Fat: 13 kcal %

Protein: 29 kcal %

Carbohydrate: 58 kcal %

(Lab Diet, formula 5001)

90 d NaFI leakage

Increases extravasation of NaFI in hippocampus;

Decreases the mRNA expression of claudin-5, -12, and ZO-2 in the choroid plexus,

Decreases the mRNA levels of Occludin in BBB capillaries.

[78]
C57BL/6J mice Male 8 w

Fat: 60 kcal %

Protein: 20 kcal %

Carbohydrate: 20 kcal %

(Research Diets, D12492)

Fat: 10 kcal %

Protein: 20 kcal %

Carbohydrate: 70 kcal %

(Research Diets, D12450)

8 w or

12 w or

16 w

EB, NaFI and IgG leakage; TEM observation for BBB ultrastructure

Increases extravasation of NaFI in hippocampus (12 w HFD);

Increases extravasation of EB in hippocampus (16 w HFD);

Increases extravasation of IgG in hippocampus (12/16 w HFD);

Induces involution and atrophy of tight junctions in hippocampus (16 w HFD);

Reduces the coverage of pericyte in e hippocampus (16 w HFD);

Increases transcytotic vesicles in endothelial cells in hippocampus (16 w HFD).

[79]
C57B6/J mice Female 6 w

Fat: 45 kcal %

Protein: 20 kcal %

Carbohydrate: 35 kcal %

(Research Diets, D12451)

Fat: 10 kcal %

Protein: 20 kcal %

Carbohydrate: 70 kcal %

(Research Diets, D12450B)

until fat enough EB and IgG leakage

Increases extravasation of EB and IgG in the ARC of neonatal offspring;

Increases fenestrations in endothelial cells in the ARC of neonatal offspring;

Increases the mRNA levels of claudin-1, -3 and ZO-1 in the ARC of neonatal offspring;

Increases active transcellular transport in the ARC of neonatal offspring .

[82]
C57BL/6J mice Male 7 w

Fat: 60 kcal %

(SYSE, PD6001)

Fat: 10 kcal %

(SYSE, D12450J)

4 m mRNA level of TJs Decreases the mRNA levels of ZO-1 and Occludin in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. [83]
C57BL/6J mice Male 6 w

Fat: 45 kcal %

(Research Diets)

Fat: 17 kcal %

(Mucedola Srl)

19 w Albumin leakage

Increases the number of scattered albumin-positive neurons (extravasated albumin is taken up by neuronal cells) in hippocampus;

Decreases the transcription of tight junction protein 1, Occludin and Claudin5.

[84]
C57BL/6J mice Male 2 m

Fat: 45 kcal %

Protein: 20 kcal %

Carbohydrate: 35 kcal %

(D12451)

Fat: 13.5 kcal %

Protein: 28.5 kcal %

Carbohydrate: 58 kcal %

(Purina 5001)

2 m Comparative proteomic

Downregulates 47 proteins in the cerebral microvessels, including cytoskeletal proteins, chaperons, enzymes, transport-related proteins, and regulators for transcriptional and translational activities;

Upregulates two proteins, involved in mRNA transport and processing.

[76]
C57BL6/J mice Male 6 w

Fat: 29.9 (w/w) %

Protein: 13.6 (w/w) %

Crude Fibre: 4.7 (w/w) %

(Specialty Feeds, SF14-088)

Fat: 4 (w/w) %

Protein: 13.6 (w/w) %

Crude Fibre: 4.7 (w/w) %

(Specialty Feeds, AIN-93 M)

4 or 24 w IgG leakage Increases extravasation of IgG in cortex and hippocampus. [125]
Sprague-Dawley albino rats Male 250–275 g

Fat: 40 kcal %

Protein: 21 kcal %

Carbohydrate: 38 kcal %

(Harlan Teklad, TD.04489)

Fat: 13 kcal %

Protein: 29 kcal %

Carbohydrate: 58 kcal %

(Lab Diet, formula 5001)

until fat enough NaFI leakage Increases extravasation of NaFI in hippocampus and cortex. [149]
Fischer rats Female 6 m

Hydrogenated coconut oil: 10 (w/w) %

Cholesterol: 2 (w/w) %

(MP Biomedicals, ‘Custom Diet D2-AIN93 without choline bitartrate and with 2% cholesterol’)

Fat: 13 kcal%

Protein: 34 kcal%

Carbohydrate: 53 kcal%

(Harlan Teklad, 8656)

6 m

SMI-71

(an antibody specific to the rat endothelial-barrier protein)

Decreases the immunoreactivity of SMI-71in cortex and hippocampus;

Increases the protein levels of Occludin in hippocampus.

[148]
C57BL/6 N mice Male 8 w

Fat: 60 kcal %

Protein: 19 kcal %

Carbohydrate: 21 kcal %

(Ssniff, D12492)

(for acute HFD)

Fat: 9 kcal %

Protein: 34 kcal %

Carbohydrate: 57 kcal %

(Ssniff, V1554)

3 d-4 w mRNA levels of transporters

Decreases the mRNA levels of Glut-1 after 3 d HFD, until 1 w HFD.

Decreases the immunoreactivity of Glut-1 after 3–7 d HFD.

The expression of Glut-1 is restored after 4 w HFD and the serum levels of VEGF increases.

[95]
C57BL/6 mice Male 8 w

Fat: 59 kcal %

Protein: 18 kcal %

Carbohydrate: 23 kcal %

(Test Diet, 58G9)

Fat: 12 kcal %

Protein: 18 kcal %

Carbohydrate: 70 kcal %

(Test Diet, 58G7)

3 d Protein levels of transporters Decreases the expression and function of Glut-1. [96]
C57BL/6 N mice Male 8 w

Fat: 56.7 kcal %

Protein: 20 kcal %

Carbohydrate: 23.1 kcal %

(CLEA, HFD32)

Fat: 12 kcal %

Protein: 29 kcal %

Carbohydrate: 59 kcal %

(CLEA, CE-2)

2 or 10 w EB leakage; Transporter and receptor expression analyze

2 w HFD:

Does not induce the extravasation of EB;

Decreases the expression of Claudin-5, Occludin and ZO-1;

Decreases the expression of Mdra1, Glut-1, P-gp, LAT1, Mct1, TfR and Lrp1 in the brain capillary;

10 w HFD:

Increases the expression of Mdra1, Glut-1, P-gp, LAT1, Mct1 and TfR in the brain capillary;

Increases the expression of Claudin-5, Occludin and ZO-1.

[97]
Mongrel dog Male 27–40 kg

Fat: 80 kcal %

(Harlan Teklad)

Fat: 17 kcal %

(Harlan Teklad)

7 w Marked intravenous insulin injection Decreases the CNS insulin level. [100]
CD-1 mice Male 8–10 w or 56–64 w Not mentioned Not mentioned Not mentioned Intravenous radiolabeled insulin injection; Transcardiac radiolabeled insulin brain perfusion

Decreases the transport of insulin across the BBB;

Regulates the BBB transport by circulating factors such as the triglyceride triolein (increases the brain uptake of insulin).

[101]
Sprague Dawley rats Male 8 w

Fat: 60 kcal %

Protein: 20 kcal %

Carbohydrate: 20 kcal %

(Research Diets, D12492)

Normal chow diet

(No details)

4 w Radiolabeled insulin uptake and degradation tests

Decreases isolated-BECs insulin uptake;

Increases NF-κB binding activity.

[102]
C57BL/6NHsd mice Male 6 w

Fat: 40 kcal %

Protein: 16 kcal %

Carbohydrate: 44 kcal %

(Test Diet, 5TJN)

Sugar: 42 g/L, add to the water

Fat: 18 kcal %

Protein: 24 kcal %

Carbohydrate: 58 kcal %

(Harlan Teklad, 2018)

14 w Intraperitoneal glucose injection; Glucose and insulin tolerance tests

Reduces brain insulin resistance by decreasing tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor and increasing serine phosphorylation of IRS-1;

Induces inflammatory (NF-κB, JNK) and stress responses (p38 MAPK, CHOP).

[104]
Lean FA/FA rats or genetically obese Zucker fa/fa rats Male 9 w

For lean FA/FA rats:

Fat: 40 (w/w) %

(Harlan Teklad, TD-97,113)

For lean FA/FA rats:

Fat: 4.50 (w/w) %

(Lab Diet, 5001)

For lean FA/FA rats:

10 w

Intravenous radiolabeled leptin injection

Decreases the permeability of leptin at the BBB;

Induces the saturation of leptin receptor at the BBB.

[108]
Suffolk × Greyface crossbreeds sheep Male 1 y Comprising 50% chopped hay, 30% rolled barley and 9% soyabean meal, etc.: ad libitum for 40 w; then restricted to 0.75 × maintenance for 16 w

Comprising 50% chopped hay, 30% rolled barley and 9% soyabean meal, etc.: restricted to

1.1 × maintenance for 40 w; then ad libitum for 16w

56 w i.c.v. injection of marked leptin Decreases the transport of leptin across the BBB. [109]
C57BL/6 and AKR mice Male 4 w

Fat: 45 kcal %

Protein: 20 kcal %

Carbohydrate: 35 kcal %

(Research Diets, D12451)

Fat: 10 kcal %

Protein: 20 kcal %

Carbohydrate: 70 kcal %

(Research Diets, D12450)

56d Intra-cerebroventricular and peripheral leptin injection Induces resistance to peripherally administered leptin, while retaining sensitivity to centrally administered leptin. [111]