Epididymal Adipose Tissue Weight Research Articles

Hypolipidemic, antiobesity and cardioprotective effects of sardinelle meat flour and its hydrolysates in high-fat and fructose diet fed Wistar rats

AimsThe present study aims to evaluate the antiobesity, hypolipidemic and cardioprotective effects of fermented sardinelle (Sardinella aurita) protein hydrolysates (FSPHs) produced with two proteolytic bacteria, Bacillus subtilis A26 (FSPH-A26) and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens An6 (FSPH-An6). Main methodsWistar rats were fed during 10weeks a standard laboratory diet, a high caloric diet (HCD) and a HCD coupled with the oral administration of sardinelle meat flour (SMF) or FSPHs. Key findingsHCD caused hyperlipidemia and increased body weight (BW). The daily oral administration of FSPHs or SMF reduced the total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) serum levels, and increased the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c). Nevertheless, FSPHs were found to be more efficient than SMF. FSPHs also lowered hepatic TC and TG content and decreased the pancreatic lipase activity. Further, the administration of FSPHs or SMF decreased the BW gain, the food intake and the relative epididymal adipose tissue weight. FSPHs exhibited a potent cardioprotective effect against heart attack, which was demonstrated by returning atherogenic indexes to their normal levels and the conservation of standard histological structure of the heart and aorta. SignificanceThe overall results indicate that FSPHs contained bioactive peptides which significantly attenuated hyperlipidemia, and might reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in rats fed HCD.

Docosahexaenoic acid‐enriched phospholipids exhibit superior effects on obesity‐related metabolic disorders to egg yolk phospholipids and soybean phospholipids in mice

Bioactive phospholipids (PL) from different origins varied greatly in the chemical constitutions, especially the fatty acid compositions, which might influence its physiological activities in turn. In the study, egg yolk phospholipids (EGG‐PL), soybean phospholipids (SOY‐PL), and marine docosahexaenoic acid‐enriched phospholipids (DHA‐PL) were administered to high fat (HF) diet‐induced obese C57BL/6J mice for 7 weeks to compare their effects on obesity‐related metabolic disorders. EGG‐PL, SOY‐PL, and DHA‐PL significantly decreased epididymal adipose tissue weights, reduced blood pressures and lowered hepatic TG levels. Only DHA‐PL efficiently decreased perirenal adipose tissue weights, and reduced serum glucose, insulin, IL‐6 and TG levels. These three phospholipids significantly decreased delta‐9 desaturation indices, the ratio of oleic acid versus stearic acid, and reduced the enzyme activities and gene expressions of FAS in the liver, while DHA‐PL also markedly reduced mRNA levels of SREBP‐1c and SCD‐1. Hepatic total catalase and peroxisomal β‐oxidation activities were significantly increased after DHA‐PL supplementation. These data indicated that the biological effects of PL with different fatty acid compositions were not completely equivalent and DHA‐PL, rich in n‐3 PUFA, was more efficient in ameliorating obesity‐related metabolic disorders, especially the lipid metabolism, attributing to the better inhibition of SREBP‐1c mediated lipogenesis and the elevation of hepatic lipolysis.Practical applications: This research gives the public the guidance of the dietary intake of bioactive phospholipids from the perspective of nutrition and it supplies informational support for the development of functional foods containing DHA‐PL participating to the prevention of chronic metabolic diseases in humans. In another aspect, this research also provides an important direction for the development and utilization of marine aquatic raw materials since these materials are the best sources of n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid enriched‐phospholipids.Dietary egg yolk phospholipids, soybean phospholipids, and marine docosahexaenoic acid‐enriched phospholipids (DHA‐PL) could efficiently improve obesity‐related metabolic disorders in mice. Notably, DHA‐PL, rich in n‐3 PUFA, exhibited the best ameliorative effects, especially on the lipid metabolism, which could be attributed to the better inhibition of SREBP‐1c mediated lipogenesis and the elevation of hepatic lipolysis. Such findings would be useful in the development of functional foods containing DHA‐PL participating to prevent chronic metabolic disease in humans.

Efeitos da composição corporal na capacidade aeróbia de animais submetidos ao exercício de natação

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/1980-0037.2016v18n2p136 The aim of this study was to verify the influence of body composition on the CAER of animals submitted to different types of physical training. Twenty-three Wistar rats were divided into groups according to the training protocol: control (CTLE); aerobic training (TAE); anaerobic training (TAN); and concurrent physical training (TCc). The critical load test (CC) was carried out for determining the anaerobic threshold at the beginning and end of the training period. TAE was composed of swimming exercise with intensity corresponding to 70% of the anaerobic threshold; TAN was composed of water jumps with overload of 50% of the body weight of each animal; and TCc was composed of a combination of aerobic and anaerobic protocols described above. After four weeks of training, the weight of epididymal adipose tissue and soleus, plantar and gastrocnemius muscles was collected and measured. Dispersion analysis was used to draw graphics and analysis of the simple linear regression model was performed to identify the influence of each variable on CAER. Body Fat demonstrated positive influence of 5% on the relationship with the Anaerobic Threshold. Soleus and gastrocnemius muscles showed negative influence of 13.1% and 37.0%, respectively. The plantaris muscle showed no influence on the Anaerobic Threshold. Body composition influenced the CAER of the animals analyzed. Moreover, it was verified that body fat favored floatability, while higher muscle mass impaired it.

Hypolipidemic Effects of High Hydrostatic Pressure Extract of Ginger in Rats Fed a High‐fat Diet

This study compared the hypolipidemic effect of hot water extract of ginger(WEG) and high hydrostatic pressure extract of ginger (HPG) in rats fed with a high‐fat diet. Male Sprague‐Dawley rats were divided into four groups and fed a normal diet (NOR), a high‐fat diet (HFD), a high‐fat diet supplemented with 0.8% WEG (WEG) and a high‐fat diet supplemented with 0.8% HPG (HPG) for 10 weeks. HPG supplementation significantly reduced body weight and epididymal adipose tissue weight compared to HFD group (p<0.05). In the WEG group, the body weight and epididymal adipose tissue weight tended to be lowered compared to those of HFD group. Rats supplemented with HPG showed lower serum triglyceride (TG) and higher serum HDL level compared to those of HFD group (p<0.05). Additionally, HPG significantly decreased the levels of hepatic total lipids, TG and total cholesterol (TC), while fecal total lipids, TG and TC were significantly increased compared to HFD group (p<0.05). These results suggest that HPG more efficiently reduced than WEG the body weight and improved lipid profiles through decreasing hepatic lipids and promoting fecal lipids excretion.Support or Funding InformationThis work was supported by the Brain Korea 21 plus project funding (No. 22A20130012143)

Evaluation of the anti-obesity effect of the microalga Phaeodactylum tricornutum

Phaeodactylum tricornutum (PT) is a classical model diatom widely used in ecology, physiology, biochemistry, and molecular biology studies. We evaluated the anti-obesity effects of PT powder based on a number of metabolic parameters in a model of diet-induced obesity. We fed C57BL/6 mice a high-fat diet supplemented with PT powder (15 or 30 % w/v) for 12 weeks, and determined energy intake, weight loss, and lipid profiles each week. PT powder significantly reduced body weight gain, and epididymal and perirenal adipose tissue weight via activation of AMPK and HMGCR pathways. Moreover, we found that fucoxanthin, the putative anti-obesity compound in PT, was effectively micellized and transferred to the soluble fraction at the ileum in an in vitro simulated digestion system. Our results indicate that PT powder has an anti-obesity effect and suggest that it is a candidate substance for the development of anti-obesity foods, supplements, and even drugs.

Hypolipidemic effects of flavonoids extracted from Lomatogonium rotatum.

Contained in the Mongolian volumes of Chinese Materia Medica, Lomatogonium rotatum Fries ex Nym. may reduce blood lipid levels and prevent obesity; however, its exact mechanism of action remains unclear. The present study investigated the hypolipidemic and obesity-inhibiting effects of four similarly structured flavonoids extracted from L. rotatum. According to a well-established method, flavonoids such as decussatin were extracted from the whole herb of L. rotatum, and male Wistar rats were subsequently fed a high-fructose diet supplemented with flavonoids (20 mg/kg) for 12 weeks. The levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) were detected. In addition, hepatic and epididymal adipose tissues were weighed, and levels of blood glucose, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, non-esterified fatty acid, insulin and leptin were determined. The mRNA expression levels of fatty acid synthase (FAS) were analyzed using a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; whereas FAS, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and threonine-172 phosphorylated AMPK protein levels were detected by western blotting. The epididymal adipose tissues of rats fed with flavonoids were lighter, as compared with those fed with fructose in the model group. Following a 12-week administration of flavonoids, the serum levels of fasting blood glucose, feeding blood glucose and leptin were decreased. Furthermore, flavonoid treatment reduced TG and cholesterol levels in the blood and increased serum HDL-C levels, as compared with the model group. High-fructose diet administration significantly increased FAS mRNA and protein expression levels, whereas the FAS protein levels of flavonoid-treated rats were markedly reduced. The flavonoid compounds also enhanced threonine-172 phosphorylation of AMPK in the liver lysate, and all flavonoids successfully downregulated leptin levels and the majority decreased the relative weights of epididymal adipose tissue. Therefore, flavonoids may function in a similar way to epigallocatechin gallate, which has previously been shown to inhibit FAS activity by stimulating AMPK in hepatocyte cells via the liver kinase B1 pathway.

Effects of Cyclo-His-Pro-enriched yeast hydrolysate on blood glucose levels and lipid metabolism in obese diabetic ob/ob mice.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVESWe examined the hypoglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic effect of yeast hydrolysate (YH) enriched with Cyclo-His-Pro (CHP) in the C57BL/6J ob/ob mouse model.MATERIALS/METHODSMice were separated into 4 groups (8 mice/group) on the basis of blood glucose and body weight: WT control, lean mice given vehicle; ob/ob control, ob/ob mice given vehicle; YH-1, ob/ob mice given 0.5 g/kg of YH; YH-2, ob/ob mice given 1 g/kg of YH. YH in saline or vehicle was administered orally in the same volume every day for 3 weeks.RESULTSMice treated with YH (0.5 and 1 g/kg) for 3 weeks displayed a significant reduction in overall body weight gain and perirenal and epididymal adipose tissue weight compared to the ob/ob control group. Additionally, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, glucose, and atherogenic indexes were significantly decreased in the blood of YH-1 and YH-2 groups compared to the ob/ob control. In ob/ob mice, YH administration significantly improved glucose tolerance and blood insulin levels. These data indicate that YH treatment produces potent hypoglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic effects by controlling body weight, fat mass, blood lipid, insulin levels, and glucose tolerance.CONCLUSIONYH could potentially be used as a treatment option for diabetes and hyperlipidemia. The CHP-enriched YH may be a promising strategy in the development of hypoglycemic peptide nutraceuticals.

Anti-obesity effects of Phyllostachys pubescens and Scutellaria baicalensis complex

Anti-obesity drugs that have been developed so far have limited efficacies and considerable adverse effects affecting tolerability and safety. Therefore, most anti-obesity durgs have been withdrawn. We tried to develop an anti-obesity agent by combinations from herbs that are used in food ingredients as well as in traditional medicines. In our study, the ethanolic extracts from Bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) leaf (BL) and Scutellaria baicalensis (SB) and their 1:1 combination (BLSB) was evaluated on high fat diet induced obese mice. BLSB group showed significant reductions in body weight gain and fat weights of liver and epididymal adipose tissue compared to BL or SB alone as well as control. Total-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels significantly decreased, and HDL-cholesterol level increased. In liver tissue, macrovesicular steaotisis was remarkably improved and its fat cell size was also significantly decreased. We have further investigated the anti-obesity effects by various combinations of the BL and SB as follows: BS31, BS21, BS11, BS12, and BS13 were formulated by mixing B and S at a ratio of 3:1, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3. All of these combinations in obesity mice reduced body weight, lipid accumulation in liver and adipose tissue as well as adipocyte size, compared to the high fat diet control mice. Among these combinations, the 2:1 combination (BS21) showed a remarkably effect. These results suggest that the combination preparations of bamboo leaf and S. baicalensis, especially their 2:1 combination, have anti-obesity effects with synergistic effect compared to bamboo leaf or S. baicalesis.

Rapid increase in fibroblast growth factor 21 in protein malnutrition and its impact on growth and lipid metabolism.

Protein malnutrition promotes hepatic steatosis, decreases insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I production and retards growth. To identify new molecules involved in such changes, we conducted DNA microarray analysis on liver samples from rats fed an isoenergetic low-protein diet for 8 h. We identified the fibroblast growth factor 21 gene (Fgf21) as one of the most strongly up-regulated genes under conditions of acute protein malnutrition (P<0·05, false-discovery rate<0·001). In addition, amino acid deprivation increased Fgf21 mRNA levels in rat liver-derived RL-34 cells (P<0·01). These results suggested that amino acid limitation directly increases Fgf21 expression. FGF21 is a polypeptide hormone that regulates glucose and lipid metabolism. FGF21 also promotes a growth hormone-resistance state and suppresses IGF-I in transgenic mice. Therefore, to determine further whether Fgf21 up-regulation causes hepatic steatosis and growth retardation after IGF-I decrease in protein malnutrition, we fed an isoenergetic low-protein diet to Fgf21-knockout (KO) mice. Fgf21-KO did not rescue growth retardation and reduced plasma IGF-I concentration in these mice. Fgf21-KO mice showed greater epididymal white adipose tissue weight and increased hepatic TAG and cholesterol levels under protein malnutrition conditions (P<0·05). Overall, the results showed that protein deprivation directly increased Fgf21 expression. However, growth retardation and decreased IGF-I were not mediated by increased FGF21 expression in protein malnutrition. Furthermore, FGF21 up-regulation rather appears to have a protective effect against obesity and hepatic steatosis in protein-malnourished animals.

Matured Hop Bittering Components Induce Thermogenesis in Brown Adipose Tissue via Sympathetic Nerve Activity.

Obesity is the principal symptom of metabolic syndrome, which refers to a group of risk factors that increase the likelihood of atherosclerosis. In recent decades there has been a sharp rise in the incidence of obesity throughout the developed world. Iso-α-acids, the bitter compounds derived from hops in beer, have been shown to prevent diet-induced obesity by increasing lipid oxidation in the liver and inhibition of lipid absorption from the intestine. Whereas the sharp bitterness induced by effective dose of iso-α-acids precludes their acceptance as a nutrient, matured hop bittering components (MHB) appear to be more agreeable. Therefore, we tested MHB for an effect on ameliorating diet-induced body fat accumulation in rodents. MHB ingestion had a beneficial effect but, compared to iso-α-acids and despite containing structurally similar compounds, acted via different mechanisms to reduce body fat accumulation. MHB supplementation significantly reduced body weight gain, epididymal white adipose tissue weight, and plasma non-esterified free fatty acid levels in diet-induced obese mice. We also found that uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) expression in brown adipose tissue (BAT) was significantly increased in MHB-fed mice at both the mRNA and protein levels. In addition, MHB administration in rats induced the β-adrenergic signaling cascade, which is related to cAMP accumulation in BAT, suggesting that MHB could modulate sympathetic nerve activity innervating BAT (BAT-SNA). Indeed, single oral administration of MHB elevated BAT-SNA in rats, and this elevation was dissipated by subdiaphragmatic vagotomy. Single oral administration of MHB maintained BAT temperature at a significantly higher level than in control rats. Taken together, these findings indicate that MHB ameliorates diet-induced body fat accumulation, at least partly, by enhancing thermogenesis in BAT via BAT-SNA activation. Our data suggests that MHB is a useful tool for developing functional foods or beverages to counteract the accumulation of body fat.

Intravenous Mycobacterium Bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Ameliorates Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Obese, Diabetic ob/ob Mice

Inflammation and immune response profoundly influence metabolic syndrome and fatty acid metabolism. To analyze influence of systemic inflammatory response to metabolic syndrome, we inoculated an attenuated vaccine strain of Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) into leptin-deficient ob/ob mice. BCG administration significantly decreased epididymal white adipose tissue weight, serum insulin levels, and a homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance. Serum high molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin level and HMW/total adiponectin ratio of the BCG treated mice were significantly higher than those of control mice. Hepatic triglyceride accumulation and macrovesicular steatosis were markedly alleviated, and the enzymatic activities and mRNA levels of lipogenic-related genes in liver were significantly decreased in the BCG injected mice. We also exposed human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells to high levels of palmitate, which enhanced endoplasmic reticulum stress-related gene expression and impaired insulin-stimulated Akt phosphorylation (Ser473). BCG treatment ameliorated both of these detrimental events. The present study therefore suggested that BCG administration suppressed development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, at least partly, by alleviating fatty acid-induced insulin resistance in the liver.

고지방 식이로 유도된 비만 마우스에서 대두 부산물인 순물과 침지수의 항비만 효과

Here we study the anti-obesity effects of by-product from soybean on mouse fed high fat diet. The body weight gain, visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue weight, liver and epididymal adipose tissue weight in freeze-dried soybean-soaking-water (SSW) powder fed group showed lower level than those in high fat diet (HFD) group by determining with weight measuring and histological methods. Also, histological analyses of the liver and fat tissues of SSW grouped mice revealed significantly less number of lipid droplets formation and smaller size of adipocytes compared to the HFD group. Moreover, the levels of total serum cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and the atherogenic index were decreased in the SSW groups. Especially, in SSW group, the levels of phosphorylation of two lipid oxidation enzymes, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and acetyl-CoA carboxylasse (ACC) were elevated hence that may activate fatty acid oxidation. But AST and ALT levels were not changed in blood. By micro-CT analysis of abdomen, SSW groups significantly showed a tendency to decrease visceral and subcutaneous fats as well as fat-deposited areas compared to HFD group. Taken together, we suggest that soybean soaking water has a function in ameliorating obesity through inhibiting lipid synthesis as well as stimulating fatty acid oxidation.

Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 activator (DIZE) modulates metabolic profiles in mice, decreasing lipogenesis.

Recent studies have shown that angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)/angiotensin (Ang) -(1-7)/Mas axis activation is able to improve the metabolic profile, enhance glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, improve metabolic parameters, and counteract deleterious effects of Ang II. The effects of endogenous ACE 2 activation on the metabolic profile of mice are poorly studied. In this study, 12 weeks old male mice were treated with the ACE 2 activator (diminazene aceturate, DIZE, 1 mg/kg/day, gavage) or saline (control) for 30 days followed by glucose tolerance tests, insulin sensitivity tests, and blood analysis. Epididymal ACE2, ACE, angiotensinogen, acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), and fatty acid synthase (FAS) were measured by quantitative RT-PCR. ACE 2 activation treatment lowered body weight (DIZE vs control) (28.69 vs 30.28g, P < 0.001), serum cholesterol (140,0 vs 177.5; P < .05), and serum triglycerides (75,00 vs 165,0; P < .05) as well as epididymal (0.008 vs 0.016; P < .05) and retroperitoneal (0.0024 vs. 0.0068; P < .01) adipose tissue weights. These effects were associated with significantly increased epididymal ACE 2 and decreased ACE and angiotensinogen (AGT) expression. Additionally, DIZE decreased adipogenesis-related gene transcription, such as ACC and FAS mRNA. In conclusion, these results indicate that activation of ACE2 by oral DIZE treatment improves the metabolic profile and reduces fat deposition in mice. These results, along with the reduction of lipogenesis markers open a new perspective for metabolic disorder pharmacotherapy.

Effect of Defatted Pepper Seed Extracts on High‐fat Diet‐induced Obesity in Mice

Obesity is one of the most common metabolic syndromes and poses a major worldwide threat to human health. Recently, natural agents that may be beneficial for improving obesity have received increasing attention. In this study, we investigate the antiobesity effect of defatted pepper seed extracts (DPSE) in diet‐induced obese mice. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a normal diet (ND) or high fat diet (HFD) with or without DPSE (10, 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight) for 7 weeks. Body weight and food efficiency ratio of mice fed HFD plus DPSE were dose‐dependently decreased compared to those in HFD. Epididymal adipose tissue and liver weights were significantly lowered in mice fed HFD plus DPSE compared to those in HFD. DPSE also lowered triglyceride and cholesterol concentration in plasma. Moreover, DPSE also significantly reversed the HFD‐induced elevation of the expression of the key adipocyte differentiation regulator in the adipose tissue. Furthermore, DPSE resulted in increased phosphorylation of AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) and acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (ACC) in the liver. These results suggest that DPSE may have excellent hypolipidemic potential to prevent obesity.

Antiobesity effects of bamboo salt in C57BL/6 mice.

Antiobesity effects of bamboo salt (BS) were evaluated compared with those of purified salt and solar salt by oral administration in a diet-induced obesity model using C57BL/6 mice. Compared with other salts, BS, especially nine times baked BS (BS-9×), significantly reduced body weight, food efficiency ratio, and weights of epididymal adipose tissue and liver in high-fat diet-fed mice. Furthermore, BS suppressed the expression of adipogenic factors, such as CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBPα), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c). Therefore, BS may suppress obesity by downregulating adipogenesis.

Up-regulation of orexigenic and down-regulation of anorexigenic neuropeptide gene expression in rat hypothalamus after partial lipectomy

Leptin down-regulates orexigenic and up-regulates anorexigenic neuropeptide gene expression in hypothalamus. Surgical removal of adipose tissue leads to decrease in circulating leptin concentrations in rats. In the present study, we tested: (a) regulation of neuropeptide gene expression in hypothalamus, (b) food intake, and (c) standard growth rate after removal of adipose tissue in rats. Partial lipectomy caused an approximately 10-fold reduction of subcutaneous, retroperitoneal and epididymal adipose tissue weight (at the end of experiments adipose tissue weight was 1.5±0.9 in lipectomy and 15±3.9g in control rats; statistically significant). Compared to control rats, the animals subjected to lipectomy presented increased food intake, standard growth rate, and decreased serum leptin concentrations (2.6±0.8 vs. 3.7±1.2ng/mL in the controls, statistically significant). These changes were associated with approximately twofold increase in neuropeptide Y, threefold increase in agouti-related peptide (orexigenic neuropeptides) and about 50% decrease in pro-opiomelanocortin and cocaine–amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide (anorexigenic neuropeptides) mRNA levels in the hypothalamus. These results suggest that partial lipectomy, leading to a decrease in circulating leptin concentrations, may exert an effect on hypothalamic orexigenic and anorexigenic neuropeptide gene expression, and consequently modulate food intake and standard growth rate in rats.

Mechanism of the antiadipogenic-antiobesity effects of a rice hull smoke extract in 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cells and in mice on a high-fat diet.

The present study investigated the inhibitory effects of a rice hull smoke extract (RHSE) against adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cells and in mice fed high fat (HFD) and normal (ND) diets. At concentrations of 0.1% and 0.5%, RHSE was shown to reduce the cellular lipid content in MDI-induced 3T3-L1 cells by about 72% and 88%, respectively, compared to that in control cells without RHSE, indicating a strong antiadipogenic effect. This result was supported by the finding that the expression of the adipocyte differentiation marker adiponectin was suppressed. MTT and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assays showed that RHSE doses of up to 0.5% (v/v) were not cytotoxic to the 3T3-L1 cells. RHSE activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) through raising the phosphorylated ratio during the early phase of cell differentiation, and western blot analysis showed that it dose-dependently inhibited the expression of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), CCAAT-enhancer binding protein (C/EBPα), and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c) at the late stage of differentiation. The antiadipogenic properties of RHSE were confirmed in vivo using experimental obese mice on a high-fat diet. Dietary supplementations of 0.5% and 1% RHSE resulted in a reduction at the end of the 7-week feeding study of body weight gain of 66.9% and 72.5%, respectively, a reduction of epididymal white adipose tissue weight by up to 87.9%, restoration of elevated total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in plasma and liver to those observed in the ND-fed mice, normalization of distorted serum leptin and adiponectin levels, and restoration of liver weight and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase/glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GOT/GPT) enzymes, blood urea, and serum creatinine to the normal control levels observed in the ND-fed mice. As was found in the 3T3-L1 cells, RHSE up-regulated AMPK phosphorylation and down-regulated PPARγ, C/EBPα and SREBP-1c protein expression in the epididymal white adipose tissues. These results indicate that RHSE inhibits the AMPK signaling pathway in mice and might serve as an antiobesity multifunctional food additive.

Effect of dietary oat β-glucan on high-fat diet induced obesity in HFA mice

Abstract Obesity has been suggested to be related to high intake of fat and low intake of fiber. Here we show the effect of oat β-glucan, a water soluble dietary fiber, in preventing high-fat diet induced obesity in human flora-associated (HFA) mice. HFA mice fed with high-fat diet for 8 weeks, significantly increased body weight, epididymal and subcutaneous adipose tissue weight compared with HFA mice in normal diet group (p

Sea cucumber cerebrosides and long-chain bases from Acaudina molpadioides protect against high fat diet-induced metabolic disorders in mice.

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a cluster of metabolic disorders such as abdominal obesity, hypertension, glucose intolerance, dyslipidemia and hepatic steatosis that contribute to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. There is an urgent need for strategies to prevent this emerging global epidemic. Recently, growing interest in discovering food functional nutrients for the prevention and treatment of MS has generated. In the present study, sea cucumber cerebrosides (SCC) and the main structural units, long-chain bases (LCB), were prepared from Acaudina molpadioides and then administered to high fat (HF) diet-induced obese C57BL/6J mice at a diet supplement dosage of 0.025% for 5 weeks to evaluate their effects on obesity-related metabolic disorders. SCC and LCB significantly decreased epididymal adipose tissue weights, lowered hepatic triacylglycerol levels, and reduced serum glucose, insulin levels and HOMA-IR index in mice. The activities of hepatic lipogenetic enzymes including FAS, ME and the mRNA levels of SREBP-1c and FAS were reduced by SCC and LCB treatment. However, SCC and LCB showed no effect on the hepatic lipolysis pathway. Besides, SCC and LCB also efficiently up-regulated the gene expression of SREBP-1c, FAS, ACC, ATGL and HSL, and down-regulated the gene expression of LPL and VLDL-r in the adipose tissue. These results demonstrated that SCC and LCB were efficacious in suppressing hepatic SREBP-1c mediated lipogenesis, inhibiting lipid uptake and increasing TG catabolism in the adipose tissue. The ameliorative degree and regulatory mechanisms of these two compounds were basically the same, suggesting that LCB are the key active structural units. Such findings would offer new insight into the application of SCC or LCB in the development of functional foods for preventing MS in humans.

Effect of high-fat or high-glucose diet on obesity and visceral adipose tissue in mice.

To investigate the effect of high-fat or high-glucose diet on obesity and visceral adipose tissue in C57BL/6 mice. Four-week-old C57BL/6 mice were allocated into normal diet group,high-fat diet group,and high-glucose diet group according to the random number table until 20 weeks old. Body weight,epididymal adipose tissue weight,blood leptin,fat infiltration in liver,M1/M2 macrophage subtypes,and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 mRNA in epididymal adipose tissues were measured. Compared with normal diet group,body weight,epididymal adipose tissue weight,and leptin concentration in high fat diet group at 20 weeks were significantly increased (P < 0.05),and oil red O staining showed more prominent adipocyte infiltration in liver in high-fat diet group than those in normal diet and high-glucose diet group. However,no apparent differences were seen in high-glucose diet group at 20 weeks in terms of body weight,epididymal adipose tissue weight and leptin concentration. In high-fat diet group,the macrophages infiltration in epididymal adipose tissue increased with time and the percentage of M2 macrophage decreased in high-fat diet group than that in high-glucose diet group(P<0.05). Compared with normal diet group,monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 mRNA expression increased significantly in high-fat diet group(P<0.05). In high-glucose group,however,no significant differences were discerned (P > 0.05). High-fat diet,rather than 60% high glucose diet,will lead to obesity and macrophage infiltration in adipose tissues.