Abstract
Stereotypic behaviors are repetitive, invariant, and purposeless actions resulting from central nervous system dysfunction. As one of the diagnostic criteria for autism, stereotypic mice have been used as a model for investigating mechanisms underlying autism. The ketogenic diet (keto diet) is a high fat, low carbohydrate diet that changes the body’s main source of energy from glucose to ketones. It has numerous beneficial effects, including reducing self-directed repetitive behavior and increasing sociability. In this study, aged mice were fed a keto diet for seven weeks to assess its effects on stereotypic behavior and sociability. Home cage observations for stereotypic behaviors and a three-chamber social assay were used to evaluate behavior before and after administration of the keto diet. Brains were processed for immunohistochemistry of Delta-FosB, a transcription factor produced from chronic activation of striatal neurons. The keto diet decreased stereotypy across the test period, however, social behavior did not change significantly. Immunohistochemistry of ∆FosB in the nucleus accumbens was inconclusive and warrants further investigation.
Recommended Citation
Brady, Molly
(2020)
"Effects of a Ketogenic Diet on Stereotypic Behavior in Mice,"
Proceedings of GREAT Day: Vol. 2019, Article 4.
Available at:
https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/proceedings-of-great-day/vol2019/iss1/4