Dietary restriction prevents dendritic changes of pyramidal neurons in hippocampal and prefrontal cortex in diabetic rat

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common endocrine disorder with cognition decline. Dietary restriction (DR), also known as calorie restriction (CR), and reduction of foodstuff intake in rodents result in increased lifespan with protective potential. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of DR on dendritic spine loss in streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats.
Rats were grouped into control, diabetic, and diabetic with DR. For induction of diabetes, STZ (i.p.) at a dose of 60 mg/kg was used. DR was applied from one month before till 2 months after diabetes induction. Finally, dendritic changes of pyramidal neurons in hippocampal and prefrontal cortex were assessed using Golgi impregnation method.
Our histochemical findings showed a significant reduction of dendritic mushroom spines of pyramidal neurons of hippocampal CA1 and prefrontal areas in the diabetic rats that was significantly attenuated in the presence of DR.
DR application could appropriately prevent dendritic spine loss and in this way may have a beneficial effect on cognitive abilities in diabetic condition.