雌性小鼠不适于构建HFD—STZ联合诱导的2型糖尿病模型

目的 探讨雌性小鼠在高脂饲料(HFD)-链脲佐菌素(STZ)联合诱导2型糖尿病模型中的可行性.方法 分别以高脂饲料、高脂饲料-果糖饮水(HFDF)和常规饲料(对照)喂养3周龄的封闭群ICR和近交系C57BL/6J (B6)小鼠6周后,HFD和HFDF组腹腔注射STZ,对照组注射相应体积柠檬酸钠溶液,然后分别以相应饲料继续喂养6周.每周测定小鼠体重,于注射前1周和注射后1～4周测定非空腹血糖浓度.结果 实验结束时各组小鼠体重较初始体重均显著增加.ICR小鼠HFD和HFDF组体重与对照组S无差异,HFD与HFDF组间也无显著变化.虽然B6小鼠HFD与HFDF组体重组间差异不显著,但两组体重均显著低于对照组.注射STZ后1～4周,两品系小鼠HFD与HFDF组血糖水平没有显著升高,组间也没有显著差异,且均没有达到2型糖尿病小鼠成模非空腹血糖标准(11 mmol/L).结论 果糖饮水不能促进高脂饲料诱导的育肥作用,而雌性小鼠也不是HFD-STZ联合诱导2型糖尿病模型的理性选择.     

高脂饮食加低剂量链脲霉素建立小鼠2型糖尿病模型

目的高脂饮食加低剂量链脲霉素（Streptozotocin,STZ）建立小鼠2型糖尿病模型。方法5周的雄性C57BL/6J小鼠,随机分为正常饲料组、正常饲料加STZ组、高脂饲料组和高脂饲料加STZ组。相应饲料喂养5周后,按照100 mg/Kg的剂量腹腔注射STZ,然后继续喂养4周。在第5周和第9周末测定小鼠的体重、收缩压、血糖、血胰岛素、血甘油三脂和胆固醇水平。结果STZ注射前各组小鼠的体重、血压、血糖、血胰岛素、血脂和血甘油三脂无明显差异（P〉0.05）。STZ注射后4周时,高脂饲料加STZ组小鼠的体重、血糖、血胰岛素、血压和血脂水平明显升高（P〈0.05）;而其他三组的这些指标无明显改变或仅部分升高。结论高脂饮食加低剂量链脲霉素可建立小鼠2型糖尿病模型,该模型具有人2型糖尿病的主要表型特征和相似的发病过程。     

C57BL/6J小鼠在构建2型糖尿病模型中体重和非空腹血糖浓度的异常变化

由北京市一实验动物生产单位购入近交系C57BL/6J(B6)和封闭群ICR(3周龄)小鼠,分别以高脂饲料、高脂饲料-3%果糖饮水(实验组)和常规饲料(对照组)喂养6周,实验组腹腔注射链脲佐菌素(STZ,100mg/kg体重),然后以相应饲料继续喂养4周。每周测定小鼠体重,于注射STZ前和注射后每周测定非空腹血糖浓度。研究显示,无论是否补充果糖饮水,B6对照组体重显著高于实验组,而相应周龄的ICR小鼠,实验组体重显著高于对照组。两品系小鼠实验组间体重无差异。注射STZ后,B6实验组血糖浓度均没有达到糖尿病小鼠非空腹血糖浓度的成模标准(11mmol/L),而ICR实验组血糖浓度均达到并超过糖尿病小鼠非空腹血糖浓度的成模标准。研究表明,无论补充果糖与否,ICR小鼠均能成功建模,而B6小鼠建模均失败。因此,ICR小鼠仍是目前应用高脂饲料-STZ联合诱导2型糖尿病模型中经济、有效的候选动物,而B6小鼠在体重和血糖浓度上的异常表现很可能是其遗传背景变化的结果,这尚需进一步研究证实。     

链脲佐菌素诱导C57BL/6J小鼠2型糖尿病模型研究

目的建立与2型糖尿病(非胰岛素依赖型糠尿病、NIDDM)病人临床特征和发病过程相似的NIDDM动物模型.方法用高脂肪饲料喂养C57BL/6J雄性断乳小鼠3周,腹腔注射链脲佐菌素(STZ),继续喂养4周,测定给药前和给药后1、3、4周非空腹血糖、实验结束时非空腹胰岛素水平,观察胰腺形态学变化.结果喂养3周后(给药前)高脂饲料-STZ组及高脂饲料-柠檬酸组血糖浓度(7.0±0.39)mmol/L、( 6.8±0.45)mmol/L高于普通饲料-STZ组及普通饲料-柠檬酸组(5.3±0.40)mmol/L、(5. 4±0.39)mmol/L,P＜0.05;实验结束时,高脂饲料-STZ组血糖浓度(13 .1±2.01)mmo/L高于高脂饲料-柠檬酸(6.9±0.46)mmol/L、普通饲料-柠檬酸组(6.0± 0.46)mmol/L和普通饲料-STZ组(7.1±0.62)mmol/L(P＜0.05),各组间血浆胰岛素浓度、体重及饮水量差异无显著性,P＞0.05;实验过程中高脂饲料STZ组和柠檬酸组小鼠每天进食热量(64.49±9.2)kJ/只,(70.7±9.6)kJ/只, 显著高于普通饲料STZ组和柠檬酸组(52.7±7.9)kJ/只,(57.3±11.7)kJ/只;各组小鼠胰腺和胰岛细胞形态正常.结论高脂肪饲料和STZ是用C57BL/6J断乳幼鼠建立NIDDM模型所必须的,100mg/kg体重STZ对普通饲料小鼠血糖无影响;用高脂饲料和STZ 处理的小鼠血糖升高、胰岛素浓度正常,与NIDM病人临床特征和发病过程相似;C57BL/6J小鼠易得,建模方法简便,费用低,是在NIDDM实验研究中能广泛使用的较理想的非遗传性NID DM动物模型.     

不同剂量链尿佐菌素诱导2型糖尿病大鼠模型的研究

目的:探讨不同剂量链脲佐菌素(Streptozotocin,STZ)联合高糖高脂饮食对2型糖尿病大鼠模型建立的影响。方法:90只8周龄SD雄性大鼠随机平均分为六组:普通饲料喂养+缓冲液组、高糖高脂饲料喂养+缓冲液(H.E组)、高糖高脂饲料喂养+35mg/kg链尿佐菌素组(H.E+35 mg/kg STZ组)、高糖高脂饲料喂养+45 mg/kg链尿佐菌素组(H.E+45 mg/kg STZ组)、高糖高脂饲料喂养+55 mg/kg链尿佐菌素组(H.E+55 mg/kg STZ组)及高糖高脂饲料喂养+65 mg/kg链尿佐菌素组(H.E+65 mg/kg STZ组),高糖高脂饲料喂养4周后诱导胰岛素抵抗,继之腹腔注射STZ,建立2型糖尿病大鼠模型。检测体重、胰岛素、空腹血糖、血脂、胰岛素敏感指数(ISI)。结果:与常规饮食组相比,高糖高脂饮食各组大鼠出现空腹血浆胰岛素(FINS)、空腹血糖(FBG)、血清甘油三脂(TG)、总胆固醇(TC)、游离脂肪酸(FFA)显著升高(P0.01),ISI显著下降(P0.01)。不同剂量STZ注射,H.E+45 mg/kg STZ组成模率最高且无自愈现象。结论:通过STZ腹腔注射联合高糖高脂饮食可成功复制出实验性2型糖尿病动物模型,45 mg/kg为STZ理想注射剂量。     

链脲佐菌素诱导C57小鼠1型糖尿病模型的研究

目的:通过小剂量多次腹腔注射链脲佐菌素(STZ)诱导建立与人类1型糖尿病相似的C57小鼠糖尿病模型,研究建模剂量和成模率。方法:将32只C57小鼠随机分为正常对照组(A)和实验组(B)。实验组(B)可分为低、中、高剂量组(50 mg/kg、70mg/kg、90 mg/kg)(n=8)。两组都喂普通饲料1周后,B组连续5天腹腔注射不同剂量STZ,测定注射前、注射后1周、2周、3周、4周、5周的空腹血糖和体重,观察小鼠饮食、饮水和排尿情况。STZ注射第3周进行口服糖耐量实验(OGTT)。结果:给药前A、B组体重和血糖无显著差异,给药1周后,B组饮水量和进食量明显增加,体重减轻。C57小鼠用药2周后,中剂量组达到建模标准,成模率75%。各剂量组均出现了糖耐量异常。结论:诱导建立C57小鼠1型糖尿病模型方法是连续5日腹腔注注射STZ,适宜剂量为70 mg/kg。     

2型糖尿病伴发高血压大鼠模型的建立

目的：建立一种2型糖尿病伴发高血压大鼠的模型。方法：65只SD雄性大鼠,随机分为正常对照组、1% NaCl饮水组、20 mg/kg STZ-1% NaCl组、30 mg/kg STZ-1% NaCl组、40 mg/kg STZ-1% NaCl组（n=13）。除正常对照组大鼠普通饮食喂养外,其余各组大鼠以高脂饲料4周+普通饲料结合1% NaCl饮水9周喂养。第4周末链脲霉素（STZ）组大鼠分别腹腔注射STZ （20 mg/kg、30 mg/kg、40 mg/kg）。实验周期13周。检测大鼠一般状况、体重、平均摄食量、血糖、血压、血脂和血浆胰岛素水平。结果：与正常对照组和1% NaCl饮水组比较,在STZ注射后仅30 mg/kg STZ-1% NaCl组、40 mg/kg STZ-1% NaCl组大鼠体重减少（P<0.05）、平均食量、空腹和随机血糖均增加（P<0.05）;第4周起血压显著升高（P<0.05）,收缩压均值达到150 mmHg进入高血压期,并在其后5周（实验结束前）稳定于150~170 mmHg;第9周血浆胰岛素水平升高（P<0.05）,血浆甘油三酯（TG）水平下降（P<0.05）。结论：高脂饲料喂养4周+腹腔注射STZ 30~40 mg/kg结合1% NaCl饮水喂养,能诱导出2型糖尿病伴发高血压的大鼠模型。     

高脂饲喂联合链脲佐菌素诱导的Beagle犬糖尿病模型

目的应用高脂饲喂联合链脲佐菌素(STZ)构建Beagle犬T2DM模型,并观察其相关特征。方法将普通级雄性Beagle犬30只随机分为3组:对照组,高脂组,糖尿病模型组,每组10只。糖尿病模型组饲喂高脂饲料同时在饲喂2个月时注射STZ;高脂组饲喂高脂饲料;对照组饲喂普通饲料,连续饲喂5个月。定期测定动物Lee指数、空腹血糖、胰岛素、尿糖,并在3月时进行OGTT试验,试验结束后进行血脂等血液生化检测和肝、胰腺组织病理检查。结果高脂组和糖尿病模型组高脂饲养2个月后Lee指数显著增加(P0.01),并出现高胰岛素血症和胰岛素抵抗伴血脂异常;糖尿病模型组STZ注射后空腹血糖显著升高(P0.01),且持续3个月维持在高血糖水平;而高脂组的空腹血糖无明显变化(P0.05),糖尿病模型组OGTT试验3 h血糖值11.1mmol/L,且3 h未恢复,胰腺组织病理学检查出现一定程度的损伤和病变。结论高脂饲料饲喂诱导Beagle犬胰岛素抵抗和高血脂症,但未能形成高血糖状态,而高脂饲料饲喂联合注射STZ后Beagle犬在出现高血脂症的同时发生胰岛素抵抗,与人类T2DM的胰岛素抵抗伴高血糖、高胰岛素血症和高血脂等典型症状相似。     

熊果酸对糖尿病小鼠肝损伤的作用及其可能机制

目的：研究熊果酸对高脂饲料联合链脲佐菌素（STZ）诱导的糖尿病小鼠肝损伤的影响,探讨其可能的作用机制。方法：随机选取20只小鼠高脂饲料喂养6周后,STZ （30 mg/kg）腹腔注射连续5 d,9 d后测空腹血糖,大于11.1 mmol/L视为糖尿病模型,将其随机分为模型组和熊果酸组（100 mg/kg）（n=10）;另取10只小鼠设为对照组。连续给药8周。小鼠称重,测定空腹血糖（FBG）,血清总胆固醇（TC）、甘油三酯（TG）含量,谷丙转氨酶（ALT）、谷草转氨酶（AST）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性,丙二醛（MDA）含量,HE染色观察肝组织病理变化。结果：模型组与对照组比较,FBG、血清TC、TG含量,ALT、AST活性、MDA含量明显升高（P<0.05,P<0.01）;SOD活性明显降低（P<0.01）;HE染色显示部分肝细胞水肿,轻度脂肪变性,门管区可见淋巴细胞浸润。熊果酸组与模型组比较,FBG,血清TC、TG含量,ALT、AST活性、MDA含量明显降低（P<0.05,P<0.01）;SOD活性明显升高（P<0.01）;HE染色显示熊果酸组肝细胞排列较为整齐,水肿不明显,淋巴细胞少量存在。结论：熊果酸对高脂饲料联合STZ诱导的糖尿病小鼠肝损伤具有保护作用,其机制可能与降血糖、调节血脂、降低肝组织氧化应激水平,提高肝脏抗氧化能力有关。     

高脂饮食联合链脲佐菌素对小鼠糖脂代谢及炎症的影响

观察高脂饮食联合链脲佐菌素(STZ)对小鼠糖脂代谢及胰岛功能损伤的影响。将体质量为18~20 g的SPF级雄性C57BL/6J小鼠40只,随机分为对照组和模型组,每组20只。对照组小鼠饲喂对照饲料,模型组小鼠饲喂高脂饲料。1周后,禁食16 h,测量小鼠体质量与空腹血糖;尾静脉采血,分离血清;每周1次,连续4周。4周后,对照组小鼠腹腔注射柠檬酸缓冲液,模型组小鼠腹腔注射STZ,剂量为40 mg·kg~(-1),每天1次,连续3 d。继续饲养2周后,测量随机血糖,以小鼠血糖≥16.7 mmol·L~(-1)者即判定为2型糖尿病。对照组及2型糖尿病小鼠经腹腔注射葡萄糖以进行糖耐量试验。与对照组同一时间的体质量和血糖进行比较,模型组小鼠体质量、血糖均升高,除第1周血糖外,差别均有统计学意义(P0.05)。采用重复测量方差分析,发现喂养时间对体质量(F=200.831)和血糖(F=7.025)均有影响,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);不同喂养时间对低密度脂蛋白(F=30.793)、甘油三酯(F=34.027)和高密度脂蛋白(F=30.793)均有影响,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。不同饲料喂养与不同喂养时间对体质量和甘油三酯存在交互作用(P0.05)。比较糖耐量曲线发现,成模小鼠较对照组小鼠糖耐量降低。采用ELISA试剂盒检测小鼠血清中TNF-α含量,成模小鼠的TNF-α含量高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。高脂饮食可导致C57BL/6J小鼠糖脂代谢紊乱,给予STZ后引起了小鼠糖耐量降低及炎症损伤,高脂饮食联合STZ可提高小鼠2型糖尿病模型的成模率。     

Mitochondrial dysfunction and inhibition of myoblast differentiation in mice with high-fat-diet-induced pre-diabetes

Pre-diabetes is characterized by impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and/or impaired fasting glucose. Impairment of skeletal muscle function is closely associated with the progression of diabetes. However, the entire pathological characteristics and mechanisms of pre-diabetes in skeletal muscle remain fully unknown. Here, we established a mouse model of pre-diabetes, in which 6-week-old male C57BL6/J mice were fed either normal diet or high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 or 16 weeks. Both non-fasting and fasting glucose levels and the results of glucose and insulin tolerance tests showed that mice fed an 8-week HFD developed pre-diabetes with IGT; whereas mice fed a 16-week HFD presented with impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance (IFG-IGT). Mice at both stages of pre-diabetes displayed decreased numbers of mitochondria in skeletal muscle. Moreover, IFG-IGT mice exhibited decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP production in skeletal muscle and muscle degeneration characterized by a shift in muscle fibers from predominantly oxidative type I to glycolytic type II. Western blotting and histological analysis confirmed that myoblast differentiation was only inhibited in IFG-IGT mice. For primary skeletal muscle satellite cells, inhibition of differentiation was observed in palmitic acid-induced insulin resistance model. Moreover, enhanced myoblast differentiation increased glucose uptake and insulin sensitivity. These findings indicate that pre-diabetes result in mitochondrial dysfunction and inhibition of myoblast differentiation in skeletal muscle. Therefore, interventions that enhance myoblast differentiation may improve insulin resistance of diabetes at the earlier stage.     

Characterization of Pancreatic Islets in Two Selectively Bred Mouse Lines with Different Susceptibilities to High-Fat Diet-Induced Glucose Intolerance

Hereditary predisposition to diet-induced type 2 diabetes has not yet been fully elucidated. We recently established 2 mouse lines with different susceptibilities (resistant and prone) to high-fat diet (HFD)-induced glucose intolerance by selective breeding (designated selectively bred diet-induced glucose intolerance-resistant [SDG-R] and -prone [SDG-P], respectively). To investigate the predisposition to HFD-induced glucose intolerance in pancreatic islets, we examined the islet morphological features and functions in these novel mouse lines. Male SDG-P and SDG-R mice were fed a HFD for 5 weeks. Before and after HFD feeding, glucose tolerance was evaluated by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Morphometry and functional analyses of the pancreatic islets were also performed before and after the feeding period. Before HFD feeding, SDG-P mice showed modestly higher postchallenge blood glucose levels and lower insulin increments in OGTT than SDG-R mice. Although SDG-P mice showed greater β cell proliferation than SDG-R mice under HFD feeding, SDG-P mice developed overt glucose intolerance, whereas SDG-R mice maintained normal glucose tolerance. Regardless of whether it was before or after HFD feeding, the isolated islets from SDG-P mice showed impaired glucose- and KCl-stimulated insulin secretion relative to those from SDG-R mice; accordingly, the expression levels of the insulin secretion-related genes in SDG-P islets were significantly lower than those in SDG-R islets. These findings suggest that the innate predispositions in pancreatic islets may determine the susceptibility to diet-induced diabetes. SDG-R and SDG-P mice may therefore be useful polygenic animal models to study the gene–environment interactions in the development of type 2 diabetes.     

Role of Pregnane X Receptor in Obesity and Glucose Homeostasis in Male Mice

Clinical obesity is a complex metabolic disorder affecting one in three adults. Recent reports suggest that pregnane X receptor (PXR), a xenobiotic nuclear receptor important for defense against toxic agents and for eliminating drugs and other xenobiotics, may be involved in obesity. Noting differences in ligand specificities between human and mouse PXRs, the role of PXR in high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity was examined using male PXR-humanized (hPXR) transgenic and PXR-knock-out (PXR-KO) mice in comparison to wild-type (WT) mice. After 16 weeks on either a control diet or HFD, WT mice showed greater weight gain, whereas PXR-KO mice gained less weight due to their resistance to HFD-induced decreases in adipose tissue peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α and induction of hepatic carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1, suggesting increased energy metabolism. Interestingly, control-fed PXR-KO mice exhibited hepatomegaly, hyperinsulinemia, and hyperleptinemia but hypoadiponectinemia and lower adiponectin receptor R2 mRNA levels relative to WT mice. Evaluation of these biologic indicators in hPXR mice fed a control diet or HFD revealed further differences between the mouse and human receptors. Importantly, although HFD-fed hPXR mice were resistant to HFD-induced obesity, both PXR-KO and hPXR mice exhibited impaired induction of glucokinase involved in glucose utilization and displayed elevated fasting glucose levels and severely impaired glucose tolerance. Moreover, the basal hepatic levels of the gluconeogenic enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 were increased in hPXR mice compared with WT mice. Altogether, although the mouse PXR promotes HFD-induced obesity, the hPXR mouse carries a genetic predisposition for type 2 diabetes and thus provides a model for exploring the role of human PXR in the metabolic syndrome.     

High-Fat Diet Induces Hepatic Insulin Resistance and Impairment of Synaptic Plasticity

High-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity is associated with insulin resistance, which may affect brain synaptic plasticity through impairment of insulin-sensitive processes underlying neuronal survival, learning, and memory. The experimental model consisted of 3 month-old C57BL/6J mice fed either a normal chow diet (control group) or a HFD (60% of calorie from fat; HFD group) for 12 weeks. This model was characterized as a function of time in terms of body weight, fasting blood glucose and insulin levels, HOMA-IR values, and plasma triglycerides. IRS-1/Akt pathway was assessed in primary hepatocytes and brain homogenates. The effect of HFD in brain was assessed by electrophysiology, input/output responses and long-term potentiation. HFD-fed mice exhibited a significant increase in body weight, higher fasting glucose- and insulin levels in plasma, lower glucose tolerance, and higher HOMA-IR values. In liver, HFD elicited (a) a significant decrease of insulin receptor substrate (IRS-1) phosphorylation on Tyr608 and increase of Ser307 phosphorylation, indicative of IRS-1 inactivation; (b) these changes were accompanied by inflammatory responses in terms of increases in the expression of NFκB and iNOS and activation of the MAP kinases p38 and JNK; (c) primary hepatocytes from mice fed a HFD showed decreased cellular oxygen consumption rates (indicative of mitochondrial functional impairment); this can be ascribed partly to a decreased expression of PGC1α and mitochondrial biogenesis. In brain, HFD feeding elicited (a) an inactivation of the IRS-1 and, consequentially, (b) a decreased expression and plasma membrane localization of the insulin-sensitive neuronal glucose transporters GLUT3/GLUT4; (c) a suppression of the ERK/CREB pathway, and (d) a substantial decrease in long-term potentiation in the CA1 region of hippocampus (indicative of impaired synaptic plasticity). It may be surmised that 12 weeks fed with HFD induce a systemic insulin resistance that impacts profoundly on brain activity, i.e., synaptic plasticity.     

Mouse breast cancer model-dependent changes in metabolic syndrome-associated phenotypes caused by maternal dioxin exposure and dietary fat

Diets high in fat are associated with increased susceptibility to obesity and metabolic syndrome. Increased adipose tissue that is caused by high-fat diets (HFD) results in altered storage of lipophilic toxicants like 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), which may further increase susceptibility to metabolic syndrome. Because both TCDD and HFD are associated with increased breast cancer risk, we examined their effects on metabolic syndrome-associated phenotypes in three mouse models of breast cancer: 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA), Tg(MMTV-Neu)202Mul/J (HER2), and TgN(MMTV-PyMT)634Mul/J (PyMT), all on an FVB/N genetic background. Pregnant mice dosed with 1 microg/kg of TCDD or vehicle on gestational day 12.5 were placed on a HFD or low-fat diet (LFD) at parturition. Body weights, percent body fat, and fasting blood glucose were measured longitudinally, and triglycerides were measured at study termination. On HFD, all cancer models reached the pubertal growth spurt ahead of FVB controls. Among mice fed HFD, the HER2 model had a greater increase in body weight and adipose tissue from puberty through adulthood compared with the PyMT and DMBA models. However, the DMBA model consistently had higher fasting blood glucose levels than the PyMT and HER2 models. TCDD only impacted serum triglycerides in the PyMT model maintained on HFD. Because the estrogenic activity of the HFD was three times lower than that of the LFD, differential dietary estrogenic activities did not drive the observed phenotypic differences. Rather, the HFD-dependent changes were cancer model dependent. These results show that cancer models can have differential effects on metabolic syndrome-associated phenotypes even before cancers arise.     

Protein malnutrition mitigates the effects of a high-fat diet on glucose homeostasis in mice

Nutrient malnutrition, during the early stages of development, may facilitate the onset of metabolic diseases later in life. However, the consequences of nutritional insults, such as a high-fat diet (HFD) after protein restriction, are still controversial. We assessed overall glucose homeostasis and molecular markers of mitochondrial function in the gastrocnemius muscle of protein-restricted mice fed an HFD until early adulthood. Male C57BL/6 mice were fed a control (14% protein-control diet) or a protein-restricted (6% protein-restricted diet) diet for 6 weeks. Afterward, mice received an HFD or not for 8 weeks (mice fed a control diet and HFD [CH] and mice fed a protein-restricted diet and HFD [RH]). RH mice showed lower weight gain and fat accumulation and did not show an increase in fasting plasma glucose and insulin levels compared with CH mice. RH mice showed higher energy expenditure, increased citrate synthase, peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha protein content, and higher levels of malate and α-ketoglutarate compared with CH mice. Moreover, RH mice showed increased AMPc-dependent kinase and acetyl coenzyme-A (CoA) carboxylase phosphorylation, lower intramuscular triacylglycerol content, and similar malonyl-CoA levels. In conclusion, protein undernourishment after weaning does not potentiate fat accumulation and insulin resistance in adult young mice fed an HFD. This outcome seems to be associated with increased skeletal muscle mitochondrial oxidative capacity and reduced lipids accumulation.     

The Beneficial Effects of n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Diet Induced Obesity and Impaired Glucose Control Do Not Require Gpr120

GPR120 (Ffar4) has been postulated to represent an important receptor mediating the improved metabolic profile seen upon ingestion of a diet enriched in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). GPR120 is highly expressed in the digestive system, adipose tissue, lung and macrophages and also present in the endocrine pancreas. A new Gpr120 deficient mouse model on pure C57bl/6N background was developed to investigate the importance of the receptor for long-term feeding with a diet enriched with fish oil. Male Gpr120 deficient mice were fed two different high fat diets (HFDs) for 18 weeks. The diets contained lipids that were mainly saturated (SAT) or mainly n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Body composition, as well as glucose, lipid and energy metabolism, was studied. As expected, wild type mice fed the PUFA HFD gained less body weight and had lower body fat mass, hepatic lipid levels, plasma cholesterol and insulin levels and better glucose tolerance as compared to those fed the SAT HFD. Gpr120 deficient mice showed a similar improvement on the PUFA HFD as was observed for wild type mice. If anything, the Gpr120 deficient mice responded better to the PUFA HFD as compared to wild type mice with respect to liver fat content, plasma glucose levels and islet morphology. Gpr120 deficient animals were found to have similar energy, glucose and lipid metabolism when fed HFD PUFA compared to wild type mice. Therefore, GPR120 appears to be dispensable for the improved metabolic profile associated with intake of a diet enriched in n-3 PUFA fatty acids.     

Folic acid supplementation alters the DNA methylation profile and improves insulin resistance in high-fat-diet-fed mice

Folic acid (FA) supplementation may protect from obesity and insulin resistance, the effects and mechanism of FA on chronic high-fat-diet-induced obesity-related metabolic disorders are not well elucidated. We adopted a genome-wide approach to directly examine whether FA supplementation affects the DNA methylation profile of mouse adipose tissue and identify the functional consequences of these changes. Mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD), normal diet (ND) or an HFD supplemented with folic acid (20 μg/ml in drinking water) for 10 weeks, epididymal fat was harvested, and genome-wide DNA methylation analyses were performed using methylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeDIP-seq). Mice exposed to the HFD expanded their adipose mass, which was accompanied by a significant increase in circulating glucose and insulin levels. FA supplementation reduced the fat mass and serum glucose levels and improved insulin resistance in HFD-fed mice. MeDIP-seq revealed distribution of differentially methylated regions (DMRs) throughout the adipocyte genome, with more hypermethylated regions in HFD mice. Methylome profiling identified DMRs associated with 3787 annotated genes from HFD mice in response to FA supplementation. Pathway analyses showed novel DNA methylation changes in adipose genes associated with insulin secretion, pancreatic secretion and type 2 diabetes. The differential DNA methylation corresponded to changes in the adipose tissue gene expression of Adcy3 and Rapgef4 in mice exposed to a diet containing FA. FA supplementation improved insulin resistance, decreased the fat mass, and induced DNA methylation and gene expression changes in genes associated with obesity and insulin secretion in obese mice fed a HFD.