Exploring the reduction in aquaporin‐4 and increased expression of ciliary neurotrophic factor with the frontal–striatal gliosis induced by chronic high‐fat dietary stress

High-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity induces peripheral inflammation and hypothalamic pathogenesis linking the activation of astrocytes and microglia. Clinical evidence indicates a positive correlation between obesity and psychiatric disorders, such as depression. The connectivity of the frontal-striatal (FS) circuit, involving the caudate putamen (CPu) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) within the prefrontal cortex (PFC), is known for its role in stress-induced depression. Thus, there is a need for a thorough investigation into whether chronic obesity-induced gliosis, characterized by the activation of astrocytes and microglia, in these brain regions of individuals with chronic obesity. The results revealed increased S100β⁺ astrocytes and Iba1⁺ microglia in the CPu and ACC of male obese mice, along with immune cell accumulation in meningeal lymphatic drainage. Activated GFAP⁺ astrocytes and Iba1⁺ microglia were observed in the corpus callosum of obese mice. Gliosis in the CPu and ACC was linked to elevated cleaved caspase-3 levels, indicating potential neural cell death by chronic HFD feeding. There was a loss of myelin and adenomatous polyposis coli (APC)⁺ oligodendrocytes (OLs) in the corpus callosum, an area known to be linked with injury to the CPu. Additionally, reduced levels of aquaporin-4 (AQP4), a protein associated within the glymphatic systems, were noted in the CPu and ACC, while ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) gene expression was upregulated in these brain regions of obese mice. The in vitro study revealed that high-dose CNTF causing a trend of reduced astrocytic AQP4 expression, but it significantly impaired OL maturation. This pathological evidence highlights that prolonged HFD consumption induces persistent FS gliosis and demyelination in the corpus callosum. An elevated level of CNTF appears to act as a potential regulator, leading to AQP4 downregulation in the FS areas and demyelination in the corpus callosum. This cascade of events might contribute to neural cell damage within these regions and disrupt the glymphatic flow.