Abstract
BackgroundHigh-fat (HF) diet feeding usually leads to hyperphagia and body weight gain, but macronutrient proportions in the diet can modulate energy intake and fat deposition. The mechanisms of fat accumulation and mobilization may differ significantly between depots, and gender can also influence these differences.AimTo investigate, in rats of both sexes, the effect of an isocaloric intake of a diet with an unbalanced proportion of macronutrients on fatty acid composition of visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues and how this is influenced by both dietary fatty acids and levels of proteins involved in tissue lipid handling.MethodsEight-week-old Wistar rats of both sexes were fed a control diet (3% w/w fat) or high-fat diet (30% w/w fat) for 14 weeks. Fatty acid composition was analyzed by gas-chromatography and levels of LPL, HSL, α2-AR, β3-AR, PKA and CPT1 were determined by Western blot.ResultsThe HF diet did not induce hyperphagia or body weight gain, but promoted an increase of adiposity index only in male rats. HF diet produced an increase of the proportion of MUFA and a decrease in that of PUFA in both adipose depots and in both sexes. The levels of proteins involved in the adrenergic control of the lipolytic pathway increased in the gonadal fat of HF females, whereas LPL levels increased in the inguinal fat of HF males and decreased in that of females.ConclusionSexual dimorphism in adiposity index reflects a differential sex response to dietary fatty acid content and could be related to the levels of the proteins involved in tissue lipid management.
Highlights
Sexual dimorphism in adiposity index reflects a differential sex response to dietary fatty acid content and could be related to the levels of the proteins involved in tissue lipid management
Adipose tissue has traditionally been considered the primary site for whole body energy storage, but is a metabolically active tissue with endocrine functions that secretes a variety of cytokines and hormones [1]
High-fat (HF) diets cause an imbalance of energy homeostasis leading to an increase in body fat deposition and are often associated with several morbidities, such as cardiovascular diseases or type 2 diabetes [14]
Summary
Adipose tissue has traditionally been considered the primary site for whole body energy storage, but is a metabolically active tissue with endocrine functions that secretes a variety of cytokines and hormones [1]. The amount of fat deposited at any specific adipose tissue site reflects the balance between rates of lipolysis, Diet composition is known to influence energy intake and body weight changes in rats and humans [13]. High-fat (HF) diets cause an imbalance of energy homeostasis leading to an increase in body fat deposition and are often associated with several morbidities, such as cardiovascular diseases or type 2 diabetes [14]. The proportions in which fatty acids appear in adipose tissue may have a significant importance in the pathophysiology of this tissue [16]. High-fat (HF) diet feeding usually leads to hyperphagia and body weight gain, but macronutrient proportions in the diet can modulate energy intake and fat deposition. The mechanisms of fat accumulation and mobilization may differ significantly between depots, and gender can influence these differences
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