Sikora · 2026 · British Journal of Pharmacology
Responses by sex to a long-term sulforaphane diet in mice
How did behavior and biological responses differ in male and female mice given a sulforaphane diet from early development?
Animal · dietary study in male and female BTBR mice
Key findings
Behavioral changes in both sexes
Repetitive behavior declined, while exploratory activity and social interaction improved in both male and female BTBR mice.
Changes in antioxidant and inflammation measures
In both sexes, NRF2-, HO-1-, and SOD1-related measures rose and IL-6- and TNF-α-related abnormalities eased.
Some responses differed by sex.
Reduced changes in serotonin, noradrenaline, and kynurenine pathways were observed in males. SOD activity increased in males, and glutathione increased in females.
Detailed results
Dietary exposure from pregnancy through postnatal day 60
Dams received the diet during pregnancy and lactation, and offspring after weaning. Behavioral testing began on postnatal day 56, and the diet continued through day 60.
Differences in response across molecular measures
In males, reactive oxygen species and IL-1β and IL-17A also decreased. NRF2 phosphorylation and KEAP1 did not change.
Timing of exposure and scope of measurement
The design continued the same diet through pregnancy, lactation, and after weaning, so the effects of these periods are combined. Outcomes included behavior and response measures in brain and blood. Individual food intake and sulforaphane concentrations in blood and tissue were not measured.
Study design
BTBR and C57BL/6 mice were divided into eight groups by strain, sex, and diet. Dams during pregnancy and lactation, and offspring after weaning, received either standard feed or feed containing sulforaphane; behavior and brain and blood measures were compared.
- Participants
- 95 male and female BTBR and C57BL/6 mice total
Eight groups · animal model - Intake and observation
- SFN 0.1% feed or standard feed
Exposure from pregnancy to postnatal day 60 - Measures
- Repetitive behavior, exploration, social interaction, prefrontal neurochemistry, antioxidant measures, and inflammatory cytokines
Study context
An animal diet study with exposure from pregnancy through postnatal day 60. Behavior and neurochemical, antioxidant, and inflammation measures were compared by sex.
Original paper and sources
Effects of lifelong sulforaphane intake on behavioural, neurochemical and biomolecular dysfunctions in the BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J mouse model of autism spectrum disorders.
- Journal
- British Journal of Pharmacology · 2026 ·
- First published
- 2026-10-06