(PTFS07-07-24) High Saturated Fat Diet Mediated Neurodegeneration in Drosophila melanogaster

Objectives: Our objective is to investigate the morphological, biochemical, and genetic influence of diet on the brain and further characterize Drosophila melanogaster as a model for diet-mediated neurodegeneration.

Methods: We used a variety of well-established Drosophila melanogaster assays including immunohistochemistry, confocal imaging, gal-4-driven gene expression and RNA deep sequencing. Our diet intervention compared a high-fat diet consisting of 30% w/v of coconut oil to the standard Drosophila lab diet consisting of no added fat.

Results: We demonstrate an increase in neuronal degeneration as characterized by vacuole formation in the brain after consumption of a diet high in saturated fat (coconut oil, 30% w/v)) in long-term diet exposure in adulthood.  Additionally, we identify key pathways that are altered in neuronal health and lipid storage playing a role in cellular homeostasis in the brain. Specifically, we explore the role of inflammation, oxidative stress, and autophagic pathways in overall brain health in response to a high-fat diet.

Conclusions: A chronic high-fat diet increases neurodegeneration and decreases neuronal health and homeostasis via changes to oxidative stress and autophagy. Drosophila melanogaster is a viable model to understand the changes in gene expression associated with these phenotypes.

Funding Sources: Iowa State University Department of Food Science & Human Nutrition