The effect of high-fat feeding on intramuscular lipid and lipid peroxidation levels in UCP3-ablated mice

Uncoupling protein-3 (UCP3) has been suggested to protect against lipid-induced oxidative damage. Therefore, we studied intramuscular lipid peroxide levels and high-fat diet induced alterations in muscle lipid metabolism of UCP3-ablated mice. UCP3-/- mice showed approximately 3-fold higher levels of intramuscular lipid peroxides upon standard chow feeding, compared to wild-type littermates. Remarkably, this difference was no longer apparent on the high-fat diet. However, upon high-fat feeding, intramuscular triacylglycerol levels were approximately 50% lower in UCP3-/- mice, in comparison to UCP3+/+ animals. Succinate dehydrogenase activity, and total protein content of the muscle fatty acid transporter FAT/CD36 were however similar between UCP3-/- and UCP3+/+ mice.