2013 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

Reduced masticatory loading during growth impairs spatial memory

Research Project

Project/Area Number	24792279
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
Allocation Type	Multi-year Fund
Research Field	Orthodontic/Pediatric dentistry
Research Institution	Tokyo Medical and Dental University
Principal Investigator	ISHIDA Takayoshi 東京医科歯科大学, 医歯(薬)学総合研究科, 助教 (90549966)
Project Period (FY)	2012-04-01 – 2014-03-31
Keywords	歯学 / 脳神経 / 認知科学
Research Abstract	Previous studies have reported that cognitive function declines in aged humans or senescence-accelerated mice when masticatory loading decreases. The purpose of the present study was to investigate cognitive functional changes under conditions of low masticatory loading during a growth period. The hypothesis that decreased masticatory loading impaired cognitive function during the growing period was tested. Male Wistar rats, 2 weeks old, were assigned to two groups: control, fed whole pellets; experimental group, fed a liquid diet. Cognitive function was assessed using the 8-radial-maze. Results suggested that decreased masticatory loading during the growth period enhanced hippocampal neuronal loss, which led to impaired cognitive function in growing rats.