燕麦纤维改善高脂饮食诱导的肥胖小鼠胰岛素抵抗的机制研究

目的：研究燕麦纤维对高脂饮食诱导小鼠胰岛素抵抗的影响。方法：采用8w龄C57BL/6J雄性小鼠高脂喂养16w,同时预防性给药,监测血液生化指标,进行糖耐量实验,ELISA法测胰岛素并计算HOMR-IR指数,解剖分离小鼠的内脏脂肪组织并称重,以及取部分组织做HE染色进行形态学观察,研究燕麦纤维对高脂诱导小鼠肥胖和胰岛素抵抗的影响。结果：与模型组比较,阳性药小檗碱组与燕麦纤维组的血糖（GLU）、甘油三酯（TG）、游离脂肪酸（FFA）、总胆固醇（TC）均能显著降低;燕麦纤维组低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）也显著降低,血浆胰岛素水平极显著降低,能增强胰岛素敏感性,改善胰岛素抵抗;血浆中炎症因子TNF-α、IL-6、L-1β及MCP-1显著降低,分别降低了27%、81%、31%、50%。小鼠体质量和内脏脂肪显著减少。脂肪细胞面积减小。结论：燕麦纤维通过减少小鼠内脏脂肪,减少FFA和炎症因子的分泌,改善由高脂饮食诱导的胰岛素抵抗,增加胰岛素敏感性。     

胆汁酸G-蛋白偶联受体激动剂齐墩果酸对高脂饮食小鼠体内糖脂代谢的影响

目的观察胆汁酸G-蛋白偶联受体（Gprotein—coupled receptor for bile acids,TGR5）激动剂齐墩果酸（oleanolic acid,OA）对肥胖小鼠体重及糖、脂代谢的影响,探讨齐墩果酸减轻肥胖小鼠体重的机制。方法建立高脂饮食诱导的肥胖小鼠动物模型,并喂食OA进行干预。动态测定体重及第17周后内脏脂肪、肝脏重量,并进行葡萄糖耐量实验（glucose tolerence test,GTT）;肝脏组织石蜡切片HE染色,光镜观察病理变化;Realtime PCR检测肝脏组织糖代谢相关基因的表达及白色脂肪组织脂肪合成酶（fatty acid synthase,FAS）的表达。结果OA减轻肥胖小鼠的体重、内脏脂肪及肝脏的重量;改善肝脏脂质沉积;增强胰岛素敏感性。OA抑制肝脏内葡萄糖-6-磷酸酶（glucose-6-phosphatase,G6Pc）的表达,并下调肥胖小鼠脂肪组织FAS的mRNA水平的表达。结论TGR5激动剂OA能减少高脂诱导的肥胖小鼠的脂肪堆积,其机制可能与OA能改善肥胖小鼠胰岛素抵抗,减少脂质合成有关。     

EPO对高脂喂养小鼠棕色脂肪组织PRDM16、FGF21表达及STAT3磷酸化水平的影响

目的：探索促红细胞生成素（EPO）对高脂饲料（HFD）喂养小鼠血糖和血浆胰岛素水平、胰岛素抵抗指数（HOMA-IR）、糖耐量,以及棕色脂肪组织中含PR结构域蛋白16（PRDM16）、信号转导与转录激活因子3（STAT3）磷酸化水平（p-STAT3/STAT3）、成纤维细胞生长因子21（FGF21）mRNA以及蛋白质表达的影响,为肥胖及其并发症的发生机制提供线索。方法：20只高脂饲料喂养的C57BL/6J雄性小鼠随机分为对照组（HFD-Con）和EPO组（HFD-EPO）,两组分别腹腔注射生理盐水和EPO（200 IU/kg）,每周3次,连续4周。4周后检测两组动物的体重、血糖与血浆胰岛素水平、HOMA-IR及糖耐量的变化;分别使用实时定量PCR法和Western blot法检测棕色脂肪组织中PRDM16、STAT3、FGF21 mRNA和蛋白质水平。结果：腹腔注射EPO 4周后,HFD-EPO组小鼠体重为（26.65±0.85）g,HFD-Con组体重为（31.50±1.60）g,P<0.01。HFD-Con组血糖为（91.06±9.86）mg/dl,HFD-EPO组为（62.79±8.09）mg/dl,P<0.01;HFD-EPO组小鼠血浆胰岛素水平为（10.56±1.06）μU/ml,HFD-Con组为（13.2±1.1）μU/ml,P<0.01。与HFD-Con组比较,HFD-EPO组的糖耐量水平显著改善,胰岛素抵抗指数下降;HFD-EPO组动物棕色脂肪组织中PRDM16、FGF21mRNA以及蛋白质表达,p-STAT/STAT3水平均显著增加,两组小鼠肝脏中FGF21 mRNA含量、血浆中FGF21含量无明显差异。结论：EPO可能通过增加棕色脂肪组织中PRDM16表达促进棕色脂肪组织的分化,降低高脂喂养小鼠的血糖水平、改善高脂喂养小鼠的糖代谢状态。     

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。     

运动预处理部分抵抗小鼠长期高脂饮食喂养引起的脂代谢紊乱

已有研究表明运动具有广泛的健康效应,其能够通过改善机体代谢等机制防治慢性疾病。新近研究表明运动预处理(即在疾病发生、发展之前给予运动干预)具有一定的心脏保护效应,但其能否抵抗高脂饮食诱导的肥胖和代谢紊乱尚不清楚。本研究旨在明确运动预处理对长期高脂饮食喂养小鼠的体重和代谢的影响,并探讨其可能机制。C57BL/6小鼠(4周龄)在经过3个月的游泳训练或安静对照后,给予正常饮食(normal diet, ND)或高脂饮食(high fat diet, HFD)喂养4个月。结果显示：3个月的游泳训练能够显著降低小鼠血糖、提高葡萄糖耐量和增加抓力。运动预处理不能改善由于HFD喂养引起的体重增加,但能够改善由于HFD喂养引起的糖耐量异常。运动预处理对ND和HFD喂养小鼠的运动能力和运动节律均无明显影响。HFD喂养后小鼠血清总胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白水平增加,皮下脂肪和附睾脂肪含量增加。运动预处理能够显著降低ND喂养小鼠循环游离脂肪酸和低密度脂蛋白水平。运动预处理能够增加HFD喂养小鼠的循环高密度脂蛋白水平,降低循环低密度脂蛋白水平,但不影响皮下脂肪和附睾脂肪的重量。HFD喂养增加肝脏重量,提高肝脏总胆固...     

二氢杨梅素对高脂饮食诱导的小鼠肥胖的影响及其机制

目的:观察二氢杨梅素(DHM)对高脂饮食诱导小鼠肥胖的影响,并探讨其作用机制是否与促进WAT棕色化有关。方法:60只c57bl/6j小鼠随机分为6组(n=10):①正常对照组(ND组):普通饲料喂养、②正常对照+低剂量DHM组(ND+L-DHM组):普通饲料喂养同时用低剂量DHM(125 mg/(kg·d))处理、③正常对照+高剂量DHM组(ND+H-DHM组):普通饲料喂养同时用高剂量DHM(250 mg/(kg·d))处理、④高脂饮食组(HFD):高脂饲料喂养、⑤高脂饮食+低剂量DHM组(HFD+L-DHM组):高脂饲料喂养同时用低剂量DHM处理、⑥高脂饮食+高剂量DHM组(HFD+H-DHM组):高脂饲料喂养同时用高剂量DHM处理。16周后小鼠空腹过夜,取血测空腹血糖和血脂,随后处死动物,测体长,算出Lee's指数;取肩胛下、腹股沟和附睾处脂肪组织称重后,甲醛固定、HE染色观察脂肪细胞大小,免疫组化检测解偶联蛋白1(UCP1)的表达;实验期间每4周测一次小鼠体重。结果:与ND组相比较,HFD组小鼠体重显著升高,提示肥胖小鼠模型复制成功。此外,HFD组小鼠体脂重量、脂肪细胞直径、Lee's指数和血糖显著增加、脂肪细胞UCP1的表达升高;使用L-DHM和H-DHM处理HFD小鼠后,体脂重量、脂肪细胞直径、Lee's指数和血糖等指标显著逆转,而脂肪细胞UCP1的表达升高更为显著;但L-DHM和H-DHM对正常小鼠上述指标无显著影响。结论:二氢杨梅素抑制高脂饮食诱导的小鼠肥胖,其机制可能与促进WAT棕色化有关。     

黄芪水提取物减轻高脂饮食引起的小鼠肥胖

目的:研究黄芪水提取物(Astragalus radix extract,ARE)对高脂饮食(High fat diet,HFD)引起的小鼠肥胖的作用及可能机制。方法:将30只C57 BL/6小鼠随机分为正常喂养组(ND组,n=10)、高脂喂养组(HFD组,n=10)和高脂喂养+黄芪水提取物处理组(ARE组,n=10)。记录三组小鼠体重及食物摄入。在喂养16周时,对小鼠附睾白色脂肪称重,并进行HE染色观察脂肪细胞大小;对小鼠肝脏进行进行HE染色观察肝脏脂肪变性情况。应用ELISA方法检测血清瘦素及脂联素水平。应用Western Blot检测脂肪组织过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体γ(Peroxisome proliferator activated receptorγ,PPARγ)表达。结果:1与ND组相比,HFD组体重及热量摄入均显著增加,表明肥胖模型建立成功;ARE处理组的体重较HFD组显著下降,但其热量摄入与HFD组相当。2与ND组相比,HFD组白色脂肪组织重量增加、脂肪细胞增大、肝细胞出现显著脂肪变性;ARE处理组上述指标较HFD组明显改善。3与ND组相比,HFD组瘦素水平升高、脂联素水平下降;ARE处理组与HFD组相比,瘦素水平降低、脂联素水平升高。4与ND组相比,HFD组PPARγ表达显著增加,而ARE处理组较HFD组PPARγ表达下降。结论:黄芪水提取物可能通过抑制PPARγ减轻高质饮食引起的肥胖。     

双硫仑治疗小鼠肥胖的安全性和有效性评价

摘要 目的：观察双硫仑治疗小鼠肥胖的安全性和有效性。方法：取6周龄C57BL/6J雄性小鼠10只,高脂饲料诱导肥胖后,随机分为双硫仑组（双硫仑玉米油溶液,300 mg/(kg?d）和对照组（等量玉米油）,每组5只小鼠。每日灌胃给药1次,连续2周,期间仍给与高脂饲料。监测小鼠食物消耗量和体重。给药结束后取小鼠血清、附睾白色脂肪垫、肩胛间区棕色脂肪和肝脏。白色、棕色脂肪和肝脏进行HE染色,观察细胞形态。电镜下观察棕色脂肪细胞内的脂滴和线粒体。Realtime-qPCR法检测棕色脂肪组织中Ucp1、Fabp4、Prdml6和Cidea的mRNA相对表达量,Western blot法检测Ucp1的蛋白表达量。检测血清中转氨酶ALT和AST含量。取8周龄C57BL/6J雄性小鼠10只,随机分为双硫仑组（双硫仑300 mg/(kg?d）和对照组（等量玉米油）,每日灌胃1次,连续2周。给药结束后进行棕色脂肪和肝脏HE染色并检测血清中ALT和AST含量。取8周龄C57BL/6J雄性小鼠10只,随机分为双硫仑组（双硫仑300 mg/(kg?d）和对照组（等量玉米油）,每日灌胃1次,连续4周,进行肝脏HE染色并检测血清中ALT和AST含量。取孕13.5天的C57BL/6J胚胎小鼠,进行成纤维细胞原代培养,分为双硫仑组（双硫仑5 mg/L）和对照组（等量DMSO）并诱导分化为棕色脂肪细胞。分化8天后进行油红O染色,观察脂滴形成情况,检测Ucp1、Fabp4、Prdml6和Cidea的mRNA相对表达量和Ucp1的蛋白表达量。结果：肥胖小鼠给药过程中,双硫仑组和对照组的进食量及体重变化并无明显差别（P＞0.05）。给药结束后,两组白色脂肪细胞大小无明显差别。双硫仑组小鼠棕色脂肪细胞直径和细胞内脂滴明显增大（P＜0.05）,脂滴数量、线粒体形态及数量无明显差别（P＞0.05）。双硫仑组小鼠棕色脂肪中Cidea和Prdm16的mRNA表达减少（P＜0.05）。正常体重小鼠双硫仑给药2周后棕色脂肪细胞脂滴也增大。细胞实验结果显示,双硫仑组脂滴形成明显减少,Ucp1、Cidea、Prdm16的mRNA表达明显减少（P<0.05）;Ucp1的蛋白表达明显减少（P<0.05）。肥胖与正常小鼠双硫仑给药2周后均出现明显的肝细胞水肿,血清中ALT和AST升高（P<0.05）,正常小鼠给药4周后仍有明显肝细胞水肿,ALT和AST升高（P<0.05）。结论：短期使用双硫仑对饮食诱导的肥胖小鼠无明显减肥作用;双硫仑在体内、外均可抑制小鼠棕色脂肪细胞的分化。短期使用双硫仑可引起肝损害。双硫仑用于减肥治疗的安全性及有效性尚不够理想。     

基于DNA甲基化技术探讨营养型肥胖小鼠脂肪细胞表观遗传的作用机制

目的：营养型肥胖症的作用机制较为复杂,课题组从表观遗传的角度,探究营养型肥胖鼠脂肪细胞DNA甲基化的差异变化,从新的角度研究肥胖症产生与进展的作用机制。方法：选用SPF级C57BL/6小鼠,采用高脂饮食诱导肥胖模型,喂养8周后,将达到营养型肥胖标准的小鼠设为肥胖组（M）;定期记录小鼠的体重;通过HE染色观察脂肪组织形态、ELISA检测血清中TC、TG、HDL-C和LDL-C的差异,并采用MethylRAD-seq技术检测肾周脂肪组织细胞DNA甲基化差异表达的位点与基因。结果：正常组（N）相比较,肥胖组的小鼠体重和肾周脂肪的重量明显增加（P<0.01）,肾周脂肪细胞形态发生改变,同视野下脂肪细胞数目明显变少,直径明显变大（P<0.01）;肥胖组的TC显著升高（P<0.01）,TG显著降低（P<0.01）。经MethylRAD-seq技术,筛查出N组和M组实验鼠中差异显著的甲基化位点共有5528个,其中上调位点3003个和下调位点2525个;DNA甲基化基因表达存在显著差异的有80个,包括表达上调44个基因和下调36个基因;GO/KEGG的富集分析显示,两组实验鼠D...     

CD36基因缺失改善高脂饮食诱导的糖代谢异常并促进肝脏脂质积聚

本研究旨在探讨在高脂饮食状态下CD36基因缺失对小鼠糖脂代谢的影响及作用机制。根据基因型将小鼠分为野生型小鼠(wild type, WT)及CD36基因敲除(CD36~(-/-))小鼠,给予高脂饮食喂养14周。小鼠腹腔注射葡萄糖(1 g/kg)或胰岛素(5units/kg)进行葡萄糖耐量或胰岛素耐量测试。HE染色观察肝脏脂质变性,全自动生化分析仪测定小鼠血清甘油三酯(triglyceride, TG)、血清游离脂肪酸(free fatty acid, FFA)、天门冬氨酸转氨酶(aspartate aminotransferase, AST)和丙氨酸转氨酶(alanine aminotransferase, ALT)浓度。Real-time PCR和Western blot检测小鼠肝脏、肌肉组织胰岛素信号通路。Real-time PCR检测小鼠原代肝细胞中磷酸烯醇式丙酮酸羧激酶(phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, PEPCK)的mRNA水平,葡萄糖检测试剂盒检测糖异生能力。免疫共沉淀(co-immunoprecipitation, Co-IP)及ELISA检测肌肉胰岛素受体β(insulin receptorβ, IRβ)酪氨酸磷酸化水平。Real-time PCR和免疫荧光染色检测小鼠肌肉葡萄糖转运蛋白4 (glucose transporter 4, GLUT4)的表达和定位。结果显示,在高脂喂养后,CD36~(-/-)小鼠血清FFA、TG、AST及ALT水平较WT小鼠明显升高(P 0.05),CD36~(-/-)小鼠肝脏外观呈脂肪样变性,HE染色结果显示肝脏脂质积聚加重,提示CD36缺失促进脂肪肝的发生。然而,相对于WT小鼠,CD36~(-/-)小鼠的空腹血糖水平降低、糖耐量升高,胰岛素耐量降低(P 0.05),提示在高脂饮食喂养条件下,CD36缺失并不会损害小鼠的糖耐量和胰岛素耐量。与WT小鼠相比,CD36~(-/-)小鼠肝脏IR/IRS/AKT胰岛素信号通路无显著差异,两组小鼠原代肝细胞PEPCK表达水平及糖异生能力均无显著差异。而在CD36~(-/-)小鼠肌肉组织中,Co-IP及ELISA实验显示IRβ酪氨酸磷酸化水平显著升高,p-AKT水平显著升高(P 0.05)。免疫荧光染色实验提示肌肉GLUT4在细胞膜的定位增强,表明CD36~(-/-)小鼠肌肉胰岛素敏感性及葡萄糖利用能力增强。以上结果提示,CD36基因缺失加重高脂饮食诱导的肝脏脂质积聚,对高脂饮食诱导的肝脏糖代谢无显著影响;CD36缺失主要通过提高肌肉组织胰岛素敏感性,促进GLUT4介导的葡萄糖利用以改善高脂饮食诱导的小鼠糖代谢异常。     

SGK1 抑制剂改善糖代谢紊乱的作用研究

目的:观察血清和糖皮质激素诱导的蛋白激酶1(serum and glucocorticoid-induced protein kinase1,SGK1)抑制剂对db/db小鼠糖代谢紊乱的改善作用,初步探讨该作用是否与改善脂肪组织功能紊乱有关。方法:将db/db小鼠随机分为db/db组、抑制剂组,同时设db/m组,db/db组、db/m组小鼠给予普通饲料喂养,抑制剂组小鼠给予含SGK1抑制剂的饲料喂养,干预8周。观察体重、摄食量、空腹血糖(fasting blood glucose,FBG)、糖化血红蛋白(glycosylated hemoglobin,Hb A1C),干预8周后行腹腔葡萄糖耐量试验(intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test,IPGTT)、腹腔胰岛素耐量试验(intraperitoneal insulin tolerance test,IPITT)。酶联免疫吸附测定(enzyme linked immunosorbent assay,ELISA)法检测血清空腹胰岛素(fasting insulin,FINS)水平,计算胰岛素抵抗指数(homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance,HOMA-IR)及胰岛素敏感性指数(insulin sensitivity index,ISI)。实时定量荧光PCR(real-time PCR)法检测脂肪组织中SGK1、脂肪细胞因子m RNA表达水平。结果:干预8周后,抑制剂组体重、FBG、Hb A1C、IPGTT、IPITT均低于db/db组(P0.05),摄食量无明显差异。与db/db组相比,抑制剂组血清FINS有下降趋势,HOMA-IR明显降低,ISI明显升高(P0.05)。SGK1抑制剂干预治疗后,脂肪组织中SGK1、单核细胞趋化因子-1(monocyte chemotactic protein-1,MCP-1)、凝血酶元激活因子的抑制因子-1(plasminogen activator inhibitor 1,PAI-1)m RNA表达下降(P0.05),脂联素(adiponectin)m RNA表达无明显变化。结论:SGK1抑制剂干预治疗可一定程度改善db/db小鼠糖代谢紊乱,该作用可能部分与改善脂肪组织功能紊乱有关。     

Metabolic consequences of ENPP1 overexpression in adipose tissue

Ectonucleotide pyrophosphate phosphodiesterase (ENPP1) has been shown to negatively modulate insulin receptor and to induce cellular insulin resistance when overexpressed in various cell types. Systemic insulin resistance has also been observed when ENPP1 is overexpressed in multiple tissues of transgenic models and attributed largely to tissue insulin resistance induced in skeletal muscle and liver. Another key tissue in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism is adipose tissue (AT). Interestingly, obese patients with insulin resistance have been reported to have increased AT ENPP1 expression. However, the specific effects of ENPP1 in AT have not been studied. To better understand the specific role of AT ENPP1 on systemic metabolism, we have created a transgenic mouse model (C57/Bl6 background) with targeted overexpression of human ENPP1 in adipocytes, using aP2 promoter in the transgene construct (AdiposeENPP1-TG). Using either regular chow or pair-feeding protocol with 60% fat diet, we compared body fat content and distribution and insulin signaling in adipose, muscle, and liver tissues of AdiposeENPP1-TG and wild-type (WT) siblings. We also compared response to intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) and insulin tolerance test (ITT). Our results show no changes in Adipose ENPP1-TG mice fed a regular chow diet. After high-fat diet with pair-feeding protocol, AdiposeENPP1-TG and WT mice had similar weights. However, AdiposeENPP1-TG mice developed fatty liver in association with changes in AT characterized by smaller adipocyte size and decreased phosphorylation of insulin receptor Tyr(1361) and Akt Ser(473). These changes in AT function and fat distribution were associated with systemic abnormalities of lipid and glucose metabolism, including increased plasma concentrations of fatty acid, triglyceride, plasma glucose, and insulin during IPGTT and decreased glucose suppression during ITT. Thus, our results show that, in the presence of a high-fat diet, ENPP1 overexpression in adipocytes induces fatty liver, hyperlipidemia, and dysglycemia, thus recapitulating key manifestations of the metabolic syndrome.     

The Development of Diet-Induced Obesity and Glucose Intolerance in C57Bl/6 Mice on a High-Fat Diet Consists of Distinct Phases

High–fat (HF) diet-induced obesity and insulin insensitivity are associated with inflammation, particularly in white adipose tissue (WAT). However, insulin insensitivity is apparent within days of HF feeding when gains in adiposity and changes in markers of inflammation are relatively minor. To investigate further the effects of HF diet, C57Bl/6J mice were fed either a low (LF) or HF diet for 3 days to 16 weeks, or fed the HF-diet matched to the caloric intake of the LF diet (PF) for 3 days or 1 week, with the time course of glucose tolerance and inflammatory gene expression measured in liver, muscle and WAT. HF fed mice gained adiposity and liver lipid steadily over 16 weeks, but developed glucose intolerance, assessed by intraperitoneal glucose tolerance tests (IPGTT), in two phases. The first phase, after 3 days, resulted in a 50% increase in area under the curve (AUC) for HF and PF mice, which improved to 30% after 1 week and remained stable until 12 weeks. Between 12 and 16 weeks the difference in AUC increased to 60%, when gene markers of inflammation appeared in WAT and muscle but not in liver. Plasma proteomics were used to reveal an acute phase response at day 3. Data from PF mice reveals that glucose intolerance and the acute phase response are the result of the HF composition of the diet and increased caloric intake respectively. Thus, the initial increase in glucose intolerance due to a HF diet occurs concurrently with an acute phase response but these effects are caused by different properties of the diet. The second increase in glucose intolerance occurs between 12 - 16 weeks of HF diet and is correlated with WAT and muscle inflammation. Between these times glucose tolerance remains stable and markers of inflammation are undetectable.     

Lipid and carbohydrate metabolism in mice with a targeted mutation in the IL-6 gene: absence of development of age-related obesity

Obesity-related insulin resistance may be caused by adipokines such as IL-6, which is known to be elevated with the insulin resistance syndrome. A previous study reported that IL-6 knockout mice (IL-6(-/-)) developed maturity onset obesity, with disturbed carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, and increased leptin levels. Because IL-6 is associated with insulin resistance, one might have expected IL-6(-/-) mice to be more insulin sensitive. We examined body weights of growing and older IL-6(-/-) mice and found them to be similar to wild-type (IL-6(+/+)) mice. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry analysis at 3 and 14 mo revealed no differences in body composition. There were no differences in fasting blood insulin and glucose or in triglycerides. To further characterize these mice, we fed 11-mo-old IL-6(-/-) and IL-6(+/+) mice a high- (HF)- or low-fat diet for 14 wk, followed by insulin (ITT) and glucose tolerance tests (GTT). An ITT showed insulin resistance in the HF animals but no difference due to genotype. In the GTT, IL-6(-/-) mice demonstrated elevated postinjection glucose levels by 60% compared with IL-6(+/+) but only in the HF group. Although IL-6(-/-) mice gained weight and white adipose tissue (WAT) with the HF diet, they gained less weight than the IL-6(+/+) mice. Total lipoprotein lipase activity in WAT, muscle, and postheparin plasma was unchanged in the IL-6 (-/-) mice compared with IL-6(+/+) mice. There were no differences in plasma leptin or TNF-alpha due to genotype. Plasma adiponectin was approximately 53% higher (71.7 +/- 14.1 microg/ml) in IL-6(-/-) mice than in IL-6(+/+) mice but only in the HF group. Thus these data show that IL-6(-/-) mice do not demonstrate obesity, fasting hyperglycemia, or abnormal lipid metabolism, although HF IL-6(-/-) mice demonstrate elevated glucose after a GTT.     

Carbenoxolone alters the morphology of adipose tissues and downregulates genes involved in adipogenesis, glucose transport and lipid metabolism in high-fat diet-fed mice

Glucocorticoid (GC) excess promotes adipose tissue accumulation, and 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) plays an important role in the local amplification of GC. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effects of carbenoxolone (CBX), an 11β-HSD1 inhibitor, on morphological changes in visceral fat, and the expression of genes involved in adipogenesis and lipid metabolism in high-fat (HF) diet-fed mice. Mice were fed a HF diet from 5 weeks of age. At 10 weeks of age, the mice received an intraperitoneal injection of CBX or vehicle every day for 2 weeks. CBX decreased body weight and visceral fat mass, and improved insulin sensitivity in HF-fed mice. This was accompanied by reduced adipocyte size and a decrease in large-sized adipocytes in visceral fat. The expression of adipogenesis (PPARγ and C/EBPα), glucose transport (GLUT4) and lipid metabolism (LPL, ATGL, and HSL)-related genes were suppressed in CBX mice. CBX treatment induced beneficial morphological changes in visceral fat and decreased the expression of adipogenesis, glucose transport and lipid metabolism-related genes. These findings reveal a potential mechanism underling the effects of CBX on reduced fat accumulation and improved insulin sensitivity.     

木犀草素预防高脂膳食诱导的小鼠胰岛素抵抗的实验研究

目的:探讨黄酮类成分木犀草素对高脂饮食诱导的肥胖小鼠模型的胰岛素抵抗的影响。方法:30只C57BL/6J小鼠分正常饮食对照组(10只),高脂膳食组(对照组,10只)和高脂膳食加2%木犀草素组(木犀草素组,10只),干预16周,观察体重、血脂水平、血糖、胰岛素敏感性及胰岛素水平的变化。结果:小鼠在给予高脂膳食16周后,体重水平、血脂水平、血糖水平、胰岛素水平显著高于木犀草素组,胰岛素敏感性显著下降,与木犀草素组比较,P<0.05或P<0.01。而木犀草素组则可显著抑制体重、血脂、血糖及胰岛素水平的升高,与胰岛素敏感性未见明显下降,与正常对照组比较,P>0.05。结论:木犀草素可预防高脂膳食诱导的胰岛素抵抗。     

Effects of dietary fat and zinc on adiposity,serum leptin and adipose fatty acid composition in C57BL/6J mice

Zinc (Zn) has been implicated in altered adipose metabolism, insulin resistance and obesity. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects dietary Zn deficiency and supplementation on adiposity, serum leptin and fatty acid composition of adipose triglycerides and phospholipid in C57BL/6J mice fed low-fat (LF) or high-fat (HF) diets for a 16 week period. Weanling C57BL/6J mice were fed LF (16% kcal from soybean oil) or HF (39% kcal from lard and 16% kcal from soybean oil) diets containing 3, 30 or 150 mg Zn/kg diet (ZD = Zn-deficient, ZC = Zn control and ZS = Zn-supplemented, respectively). HF-fed mice had higher fat pad weights and lower adipose Zn concentrations than the LF-fed mice. The ZD and ZS groups had a reduced content of fatty acids in adipose triglycerides compared to the ZC group, suggesting that zinc status may influence fatty acid accumulation in adipose tissue. Serum leptin concentration was positively correlated with body weight and body fat, and negatively correlated with adipose Zn concentration. Dietary fat, but not dietary Zn, altered the fatty acid composition of adipose tissue phospholipid and triglyceride despite differences in Zn status assessed by femur Zn concentrations. The fatty acid profile of adipose triglycerides generally reflected the diets. HF-fed mice had a higher percentage of C20:4 n-6, elevated ratio of n-6/n-3, lower ratio of PUFA/SAT and reduced percentage of total n-3 fatty acids in adipose phospholipid, a fatty acid profile associated with obesity-induced risks for insulin resistance and impaired glucose transport. In summary, the reduced adipose Zn concentrations in HF-fed mice and the negative correlation between serum leptin and adipose Zn concentrations support an interrelationship among obesity, leptin and Zn metabolism.     

Effects of excess dietary iron and fat on glucose and lipid metabolism

PurposeDiets rich in fat and energy are associated with metabolic syndrome (MS). Increased body iron stores have been recognized as a feature of MS. High-fat diets (HFs), excess iron loading and MS are closely associated, but the mechanism linking them has not been clearly defined. We investigated the interaction between dietary fat and dietary Fe in the context of glucose and lipid metabolism in the body.MethodsC57BL6/J mice were divided into four groups and fed the modified AIN-93G low-fat diet (LF) and HF with adequate or excess Fe for 7 weeks. The Fe contents were increased by adding carbonyl iron (2% of diet weight) (LF+Fe and HF+Fe).ResultsHigh iron levels increased blood glucose levels but decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. The HF group showed increases in plasma levels of glucose and insulin and insulin resistance. HF+Fe mice showed greater changes. Representative indices of iron status, such hepatic and plasma Fe levels, were not altered further by the HF. However, both the HF and excess iron loading changed the hepatic expression of hepcidin and ferroportin. The LF+Fe, HF and HF+Fe groups showed greater hepatic fat accumulation compared with the LF group. These changes were paralleled by alterations in the levels of enzymes related to hepatic gluconeogenesis and lipid synthesis, which could be due to increases in mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress.ConclusionsHigh-fat diets and iron overload are associated with insulin resistance, modified hepatic lipid and iron metabolism and increased mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress.