250 -- Effects of a Ketogenic Diet on the Stereotypy and Sociability of Model Mice

The Ketogenic (KD) diet is a high-fat, low-carb diet that has been used as an effective treatment for disorders such as epilepsy and other brain disorders characterized by repetitive behaviors. In this experiment, we explore the effects of KD on the sociability of stereotypic mice using a 3-chambered social assay. Moreover, due to the lack of literature on estrous cycles’ interactions, we also examine the relationship, if any, between these variables and the estrous cycles of our female mice. Further research will explore the mechanism to which KD affects stereotypy and sociability as well as its relationship with the estrous cycle.