Dietary supplementation of SAT and SANT, New Zealand deer velvet supplements, halts systemic LPS-induced neuroinflammation and sickness behaviour in mice

[Display omitted] •New Zealand Deer Velvet reduced sickness behaviour in mice after a single dose of LPS intraperitoneally.•New Zealand Deer Velvet downregulated inflammation associated genes upregulated by LPS injection.•New Zealand Deer Velvet decreased microglia reactivity post-LPS-injection.•The two New Zealand velvet supplements, SAT and SANT reduced neuroinflammation and sickness behaviour through different mechanism. Deer velvet extracts' anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory effects have been widely demonstrated. However, the effects of deer velvet extracts on neuroinflammation and sickness behaviour have only been suggested. This study aimed to test the effect of two deer velvet supplements, SAT and SANT, on preventing LPS-induced systemic inflammation, neuroinflammatory changes and sickness behaviour in mice. Mice diet was supplemented (4 mg/kg/day) with either SAT or SANT or given normal chow as a control for four weeks before receiving a single dose of either LPS (1 mg/kg) or saline. Velvet supplements reduced sickness scores at 6 and 12 h, but not mice activity as measured by open field test at 24 h after LPS injection. Velvet supplements did not affect plasma cytokines but prevented the overexpression of brain inflammation genes and reduced microglial reactivity after 24 h of LPS injection. Results indicate that SAT and SANT modulate sickness behaviour during peak LPS effects and brain inflammation after 24 h of injections through different pathways.