Document Type

Paper- Restricted to Campus Access

Publication Date

4-22-2021

Faculty Mentor

Stephen Kolwicz

Abstract

The ketogenic diet is a common way of achieving weight loss in the modern day and involves the substitution of carbohydrates for fat as the primary fuel source. The excess consumption of fat leads to the production of ketone bodies, which may be beneficial for certain diseases. However, the low intake of carbohydrates may negatively impact the central nervous system. Therefore, the purpose of this longitudinal study was to evaluate the effects of the ketogenic diet on motor coordination in male and female mice. Thirty-two C57BL/6 mice, 15 females and 17 males, were randomly assigned to a ketogenic diet or control diet for 6 weeks. Body weight was obtained prior to the start of the diet and every week during the feeding period. Motor coordination was assessed via the rotarod performance test, which is a horizontal rod that rotates at increasing speeds. Rotarod performance was assessed by recording the total time that each mouse spent on the rod, averaged over 3 separate trials, conducted at baseline and every 2 weeks during the study. The preliminary findings suggest potential sex differences in weight loss and motor coordination, which could be important for individuals considering the ketogenic diet.

Comments

Presented as part of the Ursinus College Celebration of Student Achievement (CoSA) held April 22, 2021.

The downloadable .mp4 video file is a poster presentation with audio commentary with a run time of 5:03.

Research done under Dr. Stephen Kolwicz for the Heart and Muscle Metabolism Lab (HaMM).

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