Effects of high-fat diet and exercise training on intracellular glucose metabolism in rats

We examined the effects of high-fat diet (HFD) and exercise training on insulin-stimulated whole body glucose fluxes and several key steps of glucose metabolism in skeletal muscle. Rats were maintained for 3 wk on either low-fat (LFD) or high-fat diet with or without exercise training (swimming for 3 h per day). After the 3-wk diet/exercise treatments, animals underwent hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp experiments for measurements of insulin-stimulated whole body glucose fluxes. In addition, muscle samples were taken at the end of the clamps for measurements of glucose 6-phosphate (G-6-P) and GLUT-4 protein contents, hexokinase, and glycogen synthase (GS) activities. Insulin-stimulated glucose uptake was decreased by HFD and increased by exercise training (P < 0.01 for both). The opposite effects of HFD and exercise training on insulin-stimulated glucose uptake were associated with similar increases in muscle G-6-P levels (P < 0.05 for both). However, the increase in G-6-P level was accompanied by decreased GS activity without changes in GLUT-4 protein content and hexokinase activities in the HFD group. In contrast, the increase in G-6-P level in the exercise-trained group was accompanied by increased GLUT-4 protein content and hexokinase II (cytosolic) and GS activities. These results suggest that HFD and exercise training affect insulin sensitivity by acting predominantly on different steps of intracellular glucose metabolism. High-fat feeding appears to induce insulin resistance by affecting predominantly steps distal to G-6-P (e.g., glycolysis and glycogen synthesis). Exercise training affected multiple steps of glucose metabolism both proximal and distal to G-6-P. However, increased muscle G-6-P levels in the face of increased glucose metabolic fluxes suggest that the effect of exercise training is quantitatively more prominent on the steps proximal to G-6-P (i.e., glucose transport and phosphorylation).     

A high-fat diet and high-fat and high-cholesterol diet may affect glucose and lipid metabolism differentially through gut microbiota in mice

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of a high-fat diet (HFD) and high-fat and high-cholesterol diet (HFHCD) on glucose and lipid metabolism and on the intestinal microbiota of the host animal. A total of 30 four-week-old female C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into three groups (n=10) and fed with a normal diet (ND), HFD, or HFHCD for 12 weeks, respectively. The HFD significantly increased body weight and visceral adipose accumulation and partly lowered oral glucose tolerance compared with the ND and HFHCD. The HFHCD increased liver weight, liver fat infiltration, liver triglycerides, and liver total cholesterol compared with the ND and HFD. Moreover, it increased serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and total cholesterol compared with the ND and HFD and upregulated alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase significantly. The HFHCD also significantly decreased the α-diversity of the fecal bacteria of the mice, to a greater extent than the HFD. The composition of fecal bacteria among the three groups was apparently different. Compared with the HFHCD-fed mice, the HFD-fed mice had more Oscillospira, Odoribacter, Bacteroides, and [Prevotella], but less [Ruminococcus] and Akkermansia. Cecal short-chain fatty acids were significantly decreased after the mice were fed the HFD or HFHCD for 12 weeks. Our findings indicate that an HFD and HFHCD can alter the glucose and lipid metabolism of the host animal differentially; modifications of intestinal microbiota and their metabolites may be an important underlying mechanism.     

Oral glucose tolerance test in polycystic ovary syndrome

OGTT was used to clarify the problem of hyperinsulinism and insulin resistance previously investigated by us in PCOS, using the tolbutamide test. The results of this latter investigation were in agreement with the previous found by us and with the similar already reported by other Authors. 26 women (7 obese), aged 14-34 years, affected by PCOS, were studied. The diagnosis of PCOS was made using clinical, hormonal, radiologic and echographic criteria. 16 age matched healthy women were used as controls. Glucose and insulin curves, glucose (GA) and insulin (IA) response areas and IA/GA ratio (insulin resistance in dex-IRI-) were studied by OGTT. Blood insulin values of patients resulted significantly more elevated than that of controls at any point of the curve and more significantly elevated were decreasing values. Mean values of insulin peaks, of insulin areas and of IRI resulted more elevated than that of controls. The presence of both an hyperinsulinism and an insulin resistance in PCOS seems therefore evident. A correlation was found between IRI values and plasma testosterone levels in non obese patients with increased urinary 17-ketosteroid output. A relationship between hyperandrogenism on one hand and hyperinsulinism and insulin resistance on the other is suggested.     

Effect of high-intensity exercise and high-fat diet on lipid metabolism in the liver of rats

[Purpose]

This study investigated the effects of high-intensity exercise (Ex) and high dietary fat intake on lipid metabolism in the liver of rats.

[Methods]

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of the four groups (n=10 per group) that were maintained on a normal diet (ND) or high-fat diet (HFD) consisting of 30% fat (w/w), with or without exercise on a treadmill at 30 m/min and 8% grade) for 4 weeks (i.e., ND, ND+Ex, HFD, and HFD+Ex groups).

[Results]

Body weight (p<.001), total plasma cholesterol (TC) (p<.001), triglyceride (TG) (p<.05), and liver TG levels (p<.05) were increased in the HFD group relative to the ND groups, and serum glucose (p<.05), insulin (p<.05), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (p<.01), and liver TG levels (p<.01) were also higher in the HFD group compared to the ND+Ex group. Plasma free fatty acid was elevated in the HFD+Ex group compared to the HFD group (p<.01). With the exception of acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase, the expression of lipid metabolism-related genes in the liver was altered in the Ex groups compared to the control group (p<.05), with genes involved in lipolysis specifically up regulated in the HFD+Ex group compared to the other groups.

[Conclusion]

Vigorous exercise may increase glucose utilization and fat oxidation by activating genes in the liver that are associated with lipid metabolism compared to that in animals consuming a HFD without exercise. Therefore, high intensity exercise can be considered to counter the adverse effects of high dietary fat intake.     

Effects of supplementing different chromium histidinate complexes on glucose and lipid metabolism and related protein expressions in rats fed a high-fat diet

BackgroundThe objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different chromium histidinate (CrHis) complexes added to the diet of rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD) on body weight changes, glucose and lipid metabolism parameters, and changes in biomarkers such as PPAR-γ, IRS-1, GLUTs, and NF-κB proteins.MethodsForty-two Sprague–Dawley rats were divided equally into six groups and fed either a control, an HFD, or an HFD supplemented with either CrHis1, CrHis2, CrHis3, or a combination of the CrHis complexes as CrHisM.ResultsFeeding an HFD to rats increased body weights, HOMA-IR values, fasting serum glucose, insulin, leptin, free fatty acid, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and MDA concentrations as well as AST activities, and decreased serum and brain serotonin concentrations compared with rats fed a control diet (P < 0.0001). The levels of the PPAR-γ, IRS-1, and GLUTs in the liver and brain decreased, while NF-κB level increased, with feeding an HFD (P < 0.05). Although all the CrHis supplements reversed the negative effects of feeding an HFD (P < 0.05), the CrHis1 complex was most effective in changing the protein levels, while CrHisM was most effective in influencing certain parameters such as body weight and serum metabolites.ConclusionThe results of the present work suggest that the CrHis1 complex is most potent for alleviating the negative effects of feeding an HFD. The efficacy of CrHisM is likely due to the presence of the CrHis1 complex.     

High molecular weight poly-gamma-glutamic acid regulates lipid metabolism in rats fed a high-fat diet and humans

We investigated the effect of high molecular weight polygamma- glutamic acid (hm gamma-PGA) on adiposity and lipid metabolism of rats in the presence of an obesity-inducing diet. Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either a normal-fat (11.4% kcal fat, NFC) or high-fat (51% kcal fat, HFC) diet. After 5 weeks, half of each diet-fed group was treated with hm gamma-PGA (NFP or HFP) for 4 weeks. The HFC group had significantly higher body weight, visceral fat mass, fasting serum levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and leptin, and lower serum HDL cholesterol level compared with those of the NFC group (p < 0.05). Treatment with hm gamma-PGA decreased body weight gain and perirenal fat mass (p<0.05), fasting serum total cholesterol, and mRNA expression of glucose-6- phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), regardless of dietary fat contents (p < 0.01). However, hm gamma-PGA increased serum HDL cholesterol in the HFC group (p < 0.05). In vitro, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme-A (HMGCoA) reductase activity was suppressed by the addition of hm gamma-PGA. In agreement with observations in animal study, the supplementation of hm gamma-PGA (150 mg/day) to 20 female subjects in an 8-week double-blind, placebocontrolled study resulted in a tendency to decrease total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol concentrations. We thus conclude that dietary supplementation of hm gamma-PGA may act as a hypocholestrolemic agent, secondary to its inhibitor effect on HMG-CoA reductase, and decrease abdominal adiposity by decreasing hepatic lipogenesis. The present study is an important first step in establishing the effect of hm gamma-PGA on cholesterol levels in rats and humans.     

Intravenous glucose tolerance test in the polycystic ovary syndrome

The problem of hyperinsulinism and insulin resistance, previously observed by us in PCOS using the tolbutamide test, was studied in the present research using intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT). 16 women (3 obese) aged 14-34 years, affected by PCOS, were studied. The diagnosis of PCOS was made using clinical, hormonal, radiologic and echographic criteria. 8 age matched healthy women were used as controls. Glucose and insulin curves, glucose (GA) and insulin (IA) response areas and IA/GA ratio (insulin resistance index-IRI-) were studied by IVGTT. Both the mean insulin peak and the mean insulin area were significantly more elevated in patients than in controls. Average IRI value also was significantly higher than that of controls. The presence of both an hyperinsulinism and an insulin resistance is shown by the higher values in patients compared to controls. No correlation was found between either insulin areas or IRI values with plasma testosterone and urinary dehydroisoandrosterone, whereas correlations were demonstrated in previous studies, using OGTT, by us and other Authors and by us using tolbutamide test. The difference in the nature of the various stimuli performed seems to explain the different results.     

母代高脂饮食诱导子代在小鼠生命早期出现糖脂代谢紊乱且具有雄性易感性

目的：探讨孕期和哺乳期的高脂饮食能否导致子代在生命早期出现糖脂代谢紊乱。方法成年雌性C57BL/6J小鼠与正常饮食雄性小鼠进行交配,孕鼠随机分为高脂饮食组和正常饮食组,在孕期和哺乳期喂养高脂饲料或正常饲料,至交配后第一代鼠断乳时（3周龄）观察其糖脂代谢相关性指标以及肝脏病理表现。结果较正常饮食组子鼠相比,高脂饮食子鼠出生体重更低（ P＜0.05）。在断乳时,高脂饮食组雄性子鼠体重较重（ P ＝0.038）,腹腔糖耐量实验30 min和60 min血糖明显升高（P值分别为＜0.001和＜0.01）,糖耐量曲线下面积较大（P＝0.0016）,HOMA-IR值较大（P＜0.05）,雌性子鼠腹腔糖耐量实验在30 min血糖高于正常组（P＜0.01）,而糖耐量曲线下面积和HOMA-IR值在两组之间无明显统计学意义。雄性和雌性子代小鼠空腹胆固醇水平高脂饮食组均高于正常饮食组（ P值分别为＜0.0001和0.0004）,而两组雄性和雌性子代小鼠空腹胰岛素和甘油三酯水平差异均无显著性（ P均＞0.05）。另外,在断乳时高脂饮食子鼠出现肝脏脂肪变性,雌性和雄性子鼠无明显差异。结论母鼠孕期和哺乳期高脂饮食能够诱导子代在生命早期就能出现糖脂代谢紊乱并且雄性子鼠更易出现肥胖、糖耐量异常、胰岛素抵抗。     

Adrenaline responsiveness of glucose metabolism in insulin-resistant adipose tissue of rats fed a high-fat diet.

The effects of adrenaline (0.5 microM) and the combination of adrenaline and insulin (1.7nM) on [6-14C]glucose metabolism were assessed in epididymal fat-pads from rats fed either a low- or high-fat diet. The response of lipolysis to adrenaline was clearly diminished in fat-fed rats. Insulin added to adrenaline inhibited the lipolysis by 50% regardless of the diet. Glucose utilization in adipose tissue of fat-fed rats was markedly stimulated by adrenaline (glucose uptake was increased 3-fold and the production of CO2 and the glycerol moiety of acylglycerol was increased 4-fold). However, adipose tissue from fat-fed rats was resistant to the effect of insulin to produce a further increase in adrenaline-stimulated glucose uptake. The intracellular capacity of lipogenesis on the one hand, and the production of CO2 and the glycerol moiety of acylglycerol on the other, are of prime importance in the action of insulin and adrenaline on glucose utilization in this model.     

Alterations of polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism in ovarian tissues of polycystic ovary syndrome rats

The metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) remains poorly characterized in ovarian tissues of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This study aimed to explore alterations in the levels of PUFAs and their metabolites in serum and ovarian tissues in a PCOS rat model treated with a high‐fat diet and andronate. Levels of PUFAs and their metabolites were measured using gas/liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry after the establishment of a PCOS rat model. Only 3 kinds of PUFAs [linoleic acid, arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid] were detected in both the circulation and ovarian tissues of the rats, and their concentrations were lower in ovarian tissues than in serum. Moreover, significant differences in the ovarian levels of AA were observed between control, high‐fat diet‐fed and PCOS rats. The levels of prostaglandins, AA metabolites via the cyclooxygenase (COX) pathway, in ovarian tissues of the PCOS group were significantly increased compared to those in the controls. Further studies on the mechanism underlying this phenomenon showed a correlation between decreased expression of phosphorylated cytosolic phospholipase A2 (p‐cPLA2) and increased mRNA and protein expression of COX2, potentially leading to a deeper understanding of altered AA and prostaglandin levels in ovarian tissues of PCOS rats.     

Effect of caffeine on the body fat and lipid metabolism of rats fed on a high-fat diet

The intake of caffeine (CF) at 0.025, 0.05 or 0.1% for 21 days progressively reduced the body fat mass and body fat percentage in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats fed on a high-fat diet with increasing administration level. Moreover, CF increased the serum concentrations of catecholamines and free fatty acids in SD rats orally administered with CF (5 mg/kg). These results suggest that the intake of CF reduced body fat by lipolysis via catecholamines. CF has potential as a functional food ingredient with an anti-obesity action.     

Metabolic syndrome in polycystic ovary syndrome

Both metabolic syndrome (MS) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are common among women. The exact prevalence of MS in women with PCOS is dependent upon the diagnostic criteria used for each. However, the frequent co-occurrence of both MS and PCOS in women is suggestive of a common aetiology. In this short review article we argue that insulin resistance, as a consequence of abdominal obesity, may represent such a common aetiology. We also review the literature on the prevalence of MS in women with PCOS and consider the impact that the particular criteria used to diagnose both MS and PCOS may have had on these estimates of prevalence.     

Proteomics and polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine disorder of heterogeneous etiology. Proteomics techniques have been used for elucidating the physiopathology of PCOS, yet the proteins identified so far were rarely the same across tissues and studies. The present review discusses the current challenges in the application of proteomics to the study of PCOS. A well-defined research design and an appropriate selection of study populations, samples and proteomic platforms are essential in clinical proteomics. Furthermore, the findings derived from proteomic approaches should be validated by complementary techniques, and the reproducibility of the results has ideally to be confirmed by different studies. Only when meeting these requirements, the proteins identified by proteomic techniques should be considered as candidates for future studies aiming to define specific molecular phenotypes of PCOS and their possible role in the metabolic and hormonal abnormalities characteristic of this syndrome.     

高雄激素血症患者非经典型21-羟化酶缺陷症与多囊卵巢综合征的鉴别

目的探讨非经典型21-羟化酶缺陷症(21-OHD)与多囊卵巢综合征(PCOS)的鉴别要点,为临床准确的诊断和及时的治疗提供可靠的临床及实验室依据。方法收集2014年1月至2015年8月在我院内分泌科门诊及住院患者中女性高雄激素血症病例,分析其临床资料的特点,并进行CYP21A2基因分析。结果共收集到合乎纳入标准患者44例,其中包括7例非经典型21-OHD和37例PCOS。实验室检测数据表明,非经典型21-OHD患者的17-羟孕酮、孕酮与PCOS患者相比明显增高,差异具有统计学意义(P值分别为0.011、0.012),促肾上腺皮质激素、皮质醇、睾酮、游离睾酮、雄烯二酮、促黄体生成素、卵泡刺激素、催乳素等指标的差异不具有统计学意义。结论非经典型21-OHD临床表现与PCOS很相似,但治疗方法截然不同,进行肾上腺相关激素测定,尤其是17-羟孕酮的测定,并结合基因检测,有助于这两种疾病的鉴别,从而使临床医师对治疗方案做出正确选择。     

大肠埃希菌脂多糖对高脂饮食动物血脂及炎性反应的影响

目的研究大肠埃希菌脂多糖对高脂饮食兔血脂和炎性反应的影响。方法给含0．5％胆固醇的饲料,3周后,分别在第4、8、12周采用耳动脉内、颈部、腹股沟处肌肉注射大肠埃希菌脂多糖（LPS）,并设立正常组和单纯高脂组。16周后观察兔的一般状态,取血清检查血脂六项、C-反应蛋白和TNF—α,取耳动脉、颈动脉、主动脉弓、胸主动脉、腹主动脉、髂动脉、肝脏,放置4％多聚甲醛中过夜,常规行HE染色,检查血管病变和相关脏器病变情况。结果单纯高脂组血清中胆固醇和LDL-C较正常组增加,复合模型组动物血清中胆固醇和LDL-C均明显高于单纯高脂组,单纯高脂组TNF-α较正常组高,复合模型组TNF-α比单纯高脂组高。病理显示主动脉弓变化明显,复合模型组内膜斑块弥漫,而单纯高脂组内膜只出现单个小斑块,单纯高脂组和复合模型组心脏病变区别不大,均见轻度水肿和小脂肪滴;单纯模型组肝脏细胞轻度水肿,而复合模型组肝脏脂肪滴明显。结论大肠埃希菌脂多糖加重了内膜斑块的形成,加剧了血脂代谢的紊乱和炎性反应。     

Identification of differentially expressed genes related to metabolic syndrome induced with high-fat diet in E3 rats

Understanding the genes differentially expressing in aberrant organs of metabolic syndrome (MetS) facilitates the uncovering of molecular mechanisms and the identification of novel therapeutic targets for the disease. This study aimed to identify differentially expressed genes related to MetS in livers of E3 rats with high-fat-diet-induced metabolic syndrome (HFD-MetS). E3 rats were fed with high-fat diet for 24 weeks to induce MetS. Then, suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) technology was used to identify the genes differentially expressed between HFD-MetS and control E3 rat livers. Twenty positive recombinant clones were chosen randomly from forward subtractive library and sent to sequence. BLAST analysis in GenBank database was used to determine the property of each cDNA fragment. In total, 11 annotated genes, 3 ESTs, and 2 novel gene fragments were identified by SSH technology. The expression of four genes (Alb, Pip4k2a, Scd1, and Tf) known to be associated with MetS and other five genes (Eif1, Rnase4, Rps12, Rup2, and Tmsb4) unknown to be relevant to MetS was significantly up-regulated in the livers of HFD-MetS E3 rats compared with control rats using real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). By analyzing the correlations between the expression of these nine genes and serum concentrations of TG, Tch, HDL-C, and LDL-C, we found that there were significant positive correlations between TG and the expression of five genes (Alb, Eif1, Pip4k2a, Rps12, and Tmsb4x), Tch and three genes (Rnase4, Scd1, and Tmsb4x), and LDL-C and two genes (Rnase4 and Scd1), as well there were significant negative correlations between HDL-C and the expression of three genes (Rup2, Scd1, and Tf). This study provides important clues for unraveling the molecular mechanisms of MetS.     

D-半乳糖诱导建立的小鼠多囊卵巢综合征模型

目的研究D-半乳糖诱导ICR中年雌性小鼠多囊卵巢综合征(PCOS)动物模型的卵巢形态学、性激素以及胰岛素水平变化,并探讨D-半乳糖引致小鼠PCOS的意义。方法以D-半乳糖腹腔注射20周龄ICR雌性小鼠8周,观察卵巢形态的变化,检测血糖值及动情周期排卵情况,并采用ELISA法测定血清胰岛素、雌二醇(E2)、促卵泡生长激素(FSH)、睾酮(T)水平。结果 D-半乳糖处理组小鼠的卵巢重量显著高于对照组(P<0.05),有80%(10/12)的单侧或双侧卵巢呈现多囊性扩张,卵巢闭锁增多及颗粒细胞层数减少,并表现为紊乱的动情周期,提示无排卵;与对照组比较,D-半乳糖组小鼠血清T、E2和空腹血糖水平明显升高(P<0.001),FSH水平下降(P<0.0001),空腹血胰岛素水平显著高于对照组(P<0.01),胰岛素敏感指数显著低于对照组(P<0.05)。结论使用D-半乳糖诱导小鼠PCOS模型,无论在影响血清性激素还是卵巢局部形态学改变方面都与临床表现相似,并存在胰岛素抵抗现象,符合PCOS的典型特征,可作为动物模型用于科学研究。     

Effect of green tea on hepatic lipid metabolism in mice fed a high-fat diet

Green tea (GT) is a widely consumed beverage with health benefits, including antiobesity effects; however, the efficacy of GT on lipid levels associated with obesity is not clearly understood. Here, we examined the impact of GT consumption on lipid metabolism in the livers of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. We performed lipid profiling using ultraperformance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry in C57BL/6J mice fed a normal diet (ND), HFD and HFD with GT for 12 weeks. The partial least squares discriminant analysis score plot showed a difference among the groups and revealed that the levels of several lipid metabolites were altered in mice fed HFD with GT. The decreased levels of lysophospholipids (LPLs), such as lysophosphatidylcholine, lysophosphatidylethanolamine and lysophosphatidylserine, in HFD mice compared to those of the ND group were recovered by supplementation of GT. In agreement with these lipid metabolites changes, hepatic lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 2/4 was significantly increased in HFD mice. This study showed abnormal changes in lipid species associated with obesity, and these levels were attenuated by GT intake, suggesting a relationship between the reduction of hepatic LPL levels and inflammation in obesity.