The effect of the Standard American Diet on Iba-1 immunoreactivity in the spinal cord before and after peripheral inflammatory injury in rats

Background

A poor-quality diet may contribute to chronic levels of inflammation and alter susceptibility to pain via activation of immune cells.

Methods

Here we examined the effect of a human-relevant Standard American Diet (SAD) prior to and following peripheral inflammatory injury.

Results

SAD consumption significantly increased Iba-1 staining in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord in rats in the presence and absence of peripheral inflammatory injury.

Conclusions

These data suggest that diet may predispose animals to an exacerbated immune response in the both presence and absence of injury. Diet may extend recovery times as a consequence of persistent immune cell activation and enhanced responses to injury.