Exposure to maternal high-fat diet induces extensive changes in the brain of adult offspring

Abstract Maternal environmental exposures, such as high-fat diets, diabetes and obesity, can induce long-term effects in offspring. These include increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), depression anxiety. The mechanisms underlying these late-life neurologic are unknown. In this article, we measured changes the offspring brain determined which regions sensitive to maternal metabolic milieu therefore may mediate NDD risk. We showed that mice exposed a diet display extensive adulthood despite being switched low-fat at weaning. Brain impacted by early-life extended amygdalar system, plays an important role reward-seeking behaviour. Genes preferentially expressed have functions related feeding behaviour, while also implicated human NDDs, autism. Our data demonstrated exposure leads alterations persist into adulthood, even after dietary modifications.