132 - Social Isolation and Dietary Stress-associated kisspeptin-1 Receptor, Inflammatory, and Metabolic-neural Dysregulations Are Rescued by Vitamin D3 Intervention in Juvenile Mice

Poster Board Number: 132
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Abstract Body : The combination of maladaptive behaviours including dietary stress (DS) and social isolation stress (SIS) has been shown to drive the rise in neuropsychiatric, mood and metabolic disorders with the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown, especially amongst adolescents. Moreover, the consumption of high-sugar, high-fat foods depletes essential micronutrient stores. This study evaluated the role of vitamin D3 intervention on social isolation and dietary stress-associated kisspeptin-1 receptor, inflammatory, and metabolic-neural dysregulations in mice. Juvenile male mice were either socially isolated, exposed to a high-fat diet and 10% fructose, or made to undergo social isolation while being allowed ad libitum access to an HFD and 10% fructose for 8 weeks. Results revealed impaired behavioural outcomes including potentiation of anxiety-like behaviours, reduction in spatial, and non-spatial working memory, and social interaction indices following exposure to DS and SIS. The combination of dietary and social isolation stress upregulated plasma c-reactive protein levels, while there was a downregulation of interleukin-10 levels in the liver, kidney, and brain tissues. Assessment of metabolic parameters showed disruptions in fasting glucose levels, and renal and liver functions.
Furthermore, there were changes in kisspeptin receptor-1 and Ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 expression in the liver, kidney, and brain sections. However, treatment with vitamin D significantly ameliorated these impairments. Taken together, findings from this study indicate that social isolation/dietary stress-driven behavioural and metabolic disturbances among adolescents could be rescued by vitamin D supplementation.