INTRODUCTION: A high-fat diet modulates the composition of the gut microbiota, which affects the susceptibility of the offspring to the development of neurodevelopmental disorders. A particularly important role is played by the maternal high-fat diet (mHFD), which is associated with an increased risk of conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the offspring. Changes occurring in the offspring’s brain may be mediated by the gut–brain axis and by microbiota-derived metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). These mechanisms may lead to metabolic disturbances as well as modifications in dendritic spine morphology.

AIM(S): The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of maternal high-fat diet and SCFA supplementation on the morphology of dendritic spines in cortical neurons. Maternal metabolic parameters, including body weight and consumption-related measures, were monitored during the dietary intervention.

METHOD(S): C57BL/6J female mice were used as the experimental model. Four experimental groups were established: animals receiving a control diet (CD; 10% kcal from fat) with water or a 1 mM sodium butyrate (SB) solution as the SCFA, and animals fed a high-fat diet (HFD; 45% kcal from fat) with water or 1 mM SB. To compare dendritic spine morphology, primary cortical neurons were cultured from the cerebral cortex of embryos at embryonic day 18.5 (E18.5). On day 18 in vitro, the cells were incubated for 48 hours with different SCFAs: sodium acetate (SA, 1 mM), SB (1 mM), sodium propionate (SP, 1 mM), or a mixture of all three (1 mM of each compound). Neurons were visualized using the DiI dye, and imaging was performed with confocal microscopy.

RESULTS: Preliminary observations suggest that SCFA treatment may modulate dendritic spine morphology. Maternal diet was also associated with measurable alterations in metabolic parameters.

CONCLUSIONS: The obtained results may suggest that the use of a different diet and SCFA may lead to changes in the dendritic spine morphology and dietary patterns.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT: The study was supported by research grant SONATA no. 2023/51/D/NZ5/02090 from the National Science Centre (Kraków, Poland).