Weight gain and brown fat composition of mice selected for high body weight fed a high-fat diet

Abstract

Mice selected for high body weight (QL522) had increased food intake, body weight gain, and fat deposition relative to mice without weight selection (QL521). Brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenic capacity, as determined by the tissue content of protein, DNA, and succinate dehydrogenase and by mitochondrial uncoupling protein content was similar or slightly higher in 2- and 10-mo-old QL522 mice relative to age-matched QL521 mice. When food intake of QL522 mice was restricted to the level of QL521 mice, body weight gain and fat deposition over 28 days were then comparable to those of QL521 mice. Food restriction had no effect on BAT composition of QL522 mice. Both QL521 and QL522 mice increased calorie intake by 40-50% when offered a palatable high-fat supplement (HF), but only QL522 mice increased weight gain and fat deposition significantly. QL521 mice fed a high-fat supplement showed a significant increase in brown fat succinate dehydrogenase content, whereas QL522 mice showed significant increases in brown fat weight, protein, and succinate dehydrogenase content relative to mice fed stock diet. Nonshivering thermogenic capacity, as assessed by norepinephrine-stimulated oxygen uptake in anesthetized animals at 30 degrees C was similar between QL521 and QL522 mice eating stock diet and was significantly increased by the high-fat supplement in both strains. Thus mice selected for high body weight are very susceptible to diet-induced obesity, and we have no evidence that a reduction in brown fat thermogenic capacity contributes to the increased fat deposition of QL522 mice as they grow old or when they are offered palatable energy-dense supplements.