Effects of ketogenic diet and caloric restriction on ischemic tolerance

The ketogenic diet (KD) is used to treat a number of brain pathologies. In this study, we undertook detailed transcriptomic profiling of rat brain after KD and ischemic stroke to uncover effects of KD and its specific mechanisms. We evaluated how a 2-month KD affected gene expression in intact brain tissue and after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). We found transcriptional reprogramming in the brain after stroke and KD treatment. KD altered the expression of genes involved in the regulation of glucose and fatty acid metabolism, mitochondrial function, immune response, Wnt-associated signaling, stem cell development, and neurotransmission in both intact rats and after MCAO.