Abstract

ABSTRACTObjective To investigate the effects of sericin extracted from silkworm Bombyx mori cocoon on morphophysiological parameters in mice with obesity induced by high-fat diet.Methods Male C57Bl6 mice aged 9 weeks were allocated to one of two groups - Control and Obese, and fed a standard or high-fat diet for 10 weeks, respectively. Mice were then further subdivided into four groups with seven mice each, as follows: Control, Control-Sericin, Obese, and Obese-Sericin. The standard or high fat diet was given for 4 more weeks; sericin (1,000mg/kg body weight) was given orally to mice in the Control-Sericin and Obese-Sericin Groups during this period. Weight gain, food intake, fecal weight, fecal lipid content, gut motility and glucose tolerance were monitored. At the end of experimental period, plasma was collected for biochemical analysis. Samples of white adipose tissue, liver and jejunum were collected and processed for light microscopy analysis; liver fragments were used for lipid content determination.Results Obese mice experienced significantly greater weight gain and fat accumulation and had higher total cholesterol and glucose levels compared to controls. Retroperitoneal and periepididymal adipocyte hypertrophy, development of hepatic steatosis, increased cholesterol and triglyceride levels and morphometric changes in the jejunal wall were observed.Conclusion Physiological changes induced by obesity were not fully reverted by sericin; however, sericin treatment restored jejunal morphometry and increased lipid excretion in feces in obese mice, suggesting potential anti-obesity effects.

Highlights

  • Obesity is a global epidemic characterized by excess body fat and cardiometabolic complications resulting from excess intake of calories, sugar, salt and fat combined with increasingly passive labor and entertainment activities.[1]The small intestine is responsible for effective absorption and processing of ingested nutrients.[2,3] It is the first organ to be exposed to food energy[4] and is capable of functional and morphological adaptation in response to ingested food quantity and quality.[5]

  • Combined sericin and high-fat diet intake has been associated with improved glucose tolerance and hypolipidemic effects,(15) increased high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels and regulation of cytokine production by fat tissues, leading to reduced leptin, resistin and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels, and increased plasma adiponectin levels.[16]. Inhibition of cholesterol absorption by intestinal cells[17] and antioxidant properties[18] have been reported

  • Obesity, when induced by high-fat and/or high-calorie diets, has been shown to affect intestinal wall components.[3,5,6]

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Summary

Introduction

Obesity is a global epidemic characterized by excess body fat and cardiometabolic complications resulting from excess intake of calories, sugar, salt and fat combined with increasingly passive labor and entertainment activities.[1]The small intestine is responsible for effective absorption and processing of ingested nutrients.[2,3] It is the first organ to be exposed to food energy[4] and is capable of functional and morphological adaptation in response to ingested food quantity and quality.[5]. Along with fat tissue changes and occasional small intestine adaptations, obesity per se is a risk factor for other conditions, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) - the most common chronic disease affecting the liver.[7,8]. Lifestyle changes, such as improved dietary habits and physical activity practice, are the major therapeutic alternatives for obesity and NAFLD.[7,9] individual responses to these strategies may not suffice.[10].

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