Studying the Effects of Mild and Severe Lysine Deficiency on Hippocampal-Related Functions

Abstract

Neurogenesis is the developmental process of generating new functionally integrated neurons. This phenomenon occurs in selected neurogenic niches including the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) and the ventricular-subventricular zone. Neurogenesis is affected by various factors including aging, oxidative stress, brain injury, environmental factors, stress, and nutritional aspects such as protein deficiency. Lysine is one of the 9 essential amino acids that are not synthesized by the body and need to be supplied exogenously through a diet. Numerous reports have correlated lysine deficiency with cognitive decline; however, the effect of lysine deficiency on hippocampal neurogenesis has not yet been addressed in the literature. This study hypothesizes the impairment of hippocampal neurogenesis and thus hippocampal-related functions due to mild and severe induced lysine deficiency. Studying this impairment through behavioural and molecular tests could showcase a novel relationship between diet and cognition.