The study objectives were to investigate the relationship between early exposure to genistein and obesity in young adulthood and to evaluate changes in reproductive health during puberty and adulthood following in utero exposure to genistein. Thirty-two female rats were randomized into four groups; low dose 400 mg genistein/kg diet group (LG), mid-dose 1200 mg genistein/kg diet group (MG), high dose 3600 mg genistein/kg diet group (HG), and control group without genistein diet (CON). Rats were fed genistein at the beginning of pregnancy along with a high-fat diet. Pups were sacrificed at week 4 and week 8 after birth. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) results showed a correlation between maternal genistein intake and genistein concentration in pups' plasma. Compared to CON, body weight reduced significantly in male HG group at week 8. No statistical differences were found in plasma estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), interleukin (IL)-6, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels with early genistein exposure. Furthermore, uterine histopathology showed notable changes in groups HG and MG compared with CON at week 4 and week 8. In conclusion, maternal genistein supplement could reduce body weight in male pups and alter uterine histopathology in female pups.
Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Animals ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Dietary Fats ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Genistein ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacology ; Male ; Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Uterus ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo investigate activation of brown adipose tissue (BAT) stimulated by medium-chain triglyceride (MCT).

METHODS30 Male C57BL/6J obese mice induced by fed high fat diet (HFD) were divided into 2 groups, and fed another HFD with 2% MCT or long-chain triglyceride (LCT) respectively for 12 weeks. Body weight, blood biochemical variables, interscapular brown fat tissue (IBAT) mass, expressions of mRNA and protein of beta 3-adrenergic receptors (β3-AR), uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1), hormone sensitive lipase (HSL), protein kinase A (PKA), and adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) in IBAT were measured.

RESULTSSignificant decrease in body weight and body fat mass was observed in MCT group as compared with LCT group (P<0.05) after 12 weeks. Greater increases in IBAT mass was observed in MCT group than in LCT group (P<0.05). Blood TG, TC, LDL-C in MCT group were decreased significantly, meanwhile blood HDL-C, ratio of HDL-C/LDL-C and norepinephrine were increased markedly. Expressions of mRNA and protein of β3-AR, UCP1, PKA, HSL, ATGL in BAT were greater in MCT group than in LCT group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONOur results suggest that MCT stimulated the activation of BAT, possible via norepinephrine pathway, which might partially contribute to reduction of the body fat mass in obese mice fed high fat diet.

Adipose Tissue, Brown ; drug effects ; Adiposity ; drug effects ; Animals ; Dietary Fats ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Ion Channels ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mitochondrial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Triglycerides ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Uncoupling Protein 1 ; Weight Loss

PURPOSE: In epidemiologic and animal studies, a high fat diet (HFD) has been shown to be associated with lower bone mineral density (BMD) and a higher risk of osteoporotic fractures. Meanwhile, consuming a HFD containing diacylglycerol (DAG) instead of triacylglycerol (TAG) is known to offer metabolically beneficial effects of reductions in body weight and abdominal fat. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a HFD containing DAG (HFD-DAG) on bone in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four-week-old male C57BL/6J mice (n=39) were divided into three weight-matched groups based on diet type: a chow diet group, a HFD containing TAG (HFD-TAG) group, and a HFD-DAG group. After 20 weeks, body composition and bone microstructure were analyzed using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and micro-computed tomography. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time PCR of bone marrow cells were performed to investigate the expressions of transcription factors for osteogenesis or adipogenesis. RESULTS: The HFD-DAG group exhibited lower body weight, higher BMD, and superior microstructural bone parameters, compared to the HFD-TAG group. The HFD-DAG group showed increased expression of Runx2 and decreased expression of PPARgamma in bone marrow cells, compared to the HFD-TAG group. The HFD-DAG group also had lower levels of plasma glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, and triglyceride than the HFD-TAG group. CONCLUSION: Compared to HFD-TAG, HFD-DAG showed beneficial effects on bone and bone metabolism in C57BL/6J mice.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Adipogenesis ; Animals ; Body Composition ; Body Weight ; Bone Density/*drug effects ; Bone Marrow Cells/metabolism ; Diet, High-Fat/*adverse effects ; Dietary Fats/*pharmacology ; Diglycerides/administration & dosage/*adverse effects ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Osteogenesis/*drug effects ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Triglycerides ; X-Ray Microtomography

Animals ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Dietary Fats ; adverse effects ; Female ; Insulin Resistance ; Isoflavones ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Ovariectomy ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Soybeans ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of different dietary fat and oils (differing in their degree of saturation and unsaturation) on lipid peroxidation in liver and blood of rats.

METHODSThe study was conducted on 50 albino rats that were randomly divided into 5 groups of 10 animals. The groups were fed on dietary butter (Group I), margarine (Group II), olive oil (Group III), sunflower oil (Group IV) and corn oil (Group V) for 7 weeks. After 12 h of diet removal, livers were excised and blood was collected to measure malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the supernatant of liver homogenate and in blood. Blood superoxide dismutase activity (SOD), glutathione peroxidase activity (GPx), serum vitamin E and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels were also measured to determine the effects of fats and oils on lipid peroxidation.

RESULTSThe results indicated that no significant differences were observed in SOD activity, vitamin E and TAC levels between the five groups. However, there was significant decrease of GPx activity in groups IV and V when compared with other groups. The results indicated that feeding corn oil caused significant increases in liver and blood MDA levels as compared with other oils and fats. There were positive correlations between SOD and GPx, vitamin E and TAC as well as between GPx and TAC (r: 0.743; P<0.001) and between blood MDA and liver MDA (r: 0.897; P<0.001). The results showed also negative correlations between blood MDA on one hand and SOD, GPx, vitamin E and TAC on the other hand.

CONCLUSIONSThe results demonstrated that feeding oils rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) increases lipid peroxidation significantly and may raise the susceptibility of tissues to free radical oxidative damage.

Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Diet ; Dietary Fats ; pharmacology ; Dietary Fats, Unsaturated ; pharmacology ; Female ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; blood ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; Plant Oils ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Huanglian Jiedu IJecoction (HJU) on systemic and vascular immune responses of high fat diet fed apoE deficient (apoE(-/-)) mice.

METHODSEight wild type C57BL6 mice were recruited as the wild type common food group. Totally 24 apoE(-/-) mice were randomly divided into the ApoE'common food group, the ApoE(-/-) hyperlipidemia group, and the ApoE(-/-) hyperlipidemia plus HJD group, 8 in each group. In the present study, the common food mice and high fat fed mice were fed with a chow diet or a high cholesterol diet for 4 weeks. HJD was given to mice in the ApoE(-/-) hyperlipidemia plus HJD group at the daily dose of 5 g/kg by gastrogavage, while equal volume of pure water was given to mice in the rest groups by gastrogavage. Four weeks later, the plasma levels of blood lipids, the ratio of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and expressions of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) and CD36 on the monocytes were detected. The pathological changes and expressions of cytokines in local aorta were detected. The plasma cytokine levels in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were analyzed. Results (1) Compared with the wild type common food group, TO, TG, and LDL-O significantly increased in the ApoE(-/-) common food group (P < 0. 05, P < 0.01). Compared with the ApoE(-/-) common food group, TC and LDL-C significantly increased in the hyperlipidemia group (P < 0. 05). There was no statistical difference in each index between the ApoE(-/-) hyperlipidemia group and the ApoE(-/-) hyperlipidemia plus HJD group (P > 0.05). (2) Compared with the wild type common food group, no obvious change of the ratio of peripheral blood mononuclear cells happened, the TLR4 expression level significantly increased in the ApoE'common food group (P < 0. 05). Compared with the ApoE common food group, the ratio of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and the TLR4 expression level significantly increased in the ApoE' hyperlipidemia group (P < 0.05). Compared with the ApoE(-/-) hyperlipidemia group, the ratio of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and the TLR4 expression level significantly decreased. Besides, the CD36 expression level also significantly decreased (P<0.05). (3) After stimulated by LPS for 3 h, compared with the wild type common food group, plasma TNF-ct and IL-b expressions significantly increased in the ApoE(-/-) common food group (P < 0.05). Compared with the ApoE(-/-) common food group, plasma expressions of IL-12, TNF-alpha, MCP-1, and IL-10 increased, but with no statistical difference in the ApoE(-/-) hyperlipidemia group (P > 0.05). After 4-week intervention of HJD, compared with the ApoE(-/-) hyperlipidemia group, the MCP-1 expression was significantly down-regulated, while the IL-10 expression significantly increased, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). Compared with the wild type common food group, mRNA expression levels of IFN-gamma, MCP-1 , TNF-alpha, IL-10, and IL-1beta significantly increased (P < 0. 05, P < 0.01). Compared with the ApoE(-/-) common food group, not only mRNA expression levels of IFN-gamma, MCP-1, TNF-alpha, and IL-1beta, further significantly increased, but also IL-12, IL-10, and TGF-beta significantly increased (P < 0. 05, P < 0. 01). After 4-week intervention of HJD, compared with the ApoE(-/-) hyperlipidemia group, mRNA expression levels of MCP-1, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-12 significantly decreased in the ApoE(-/-) hyperlipidemia plus HJD group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSHigh fat diet induced systemic reaction and inflammatory reactions of local vessels. The local inflammatory response of vessels exceeded systemic inflammatory response. Intervention of HJD could attenuate inflammatory response, especially in local arteries. Meanwhile, it enhanced systemic anti-inflammatory reactions.

Animals ; Aorta ; pathology ; Apolipoproteins E ; genetics ; CD36 Antigens ; metabolism ; Chemokine CCL2 ; metabolism ; Dietary Fats ; adverse effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Hyperlipidemias ; blood ; etiology ; immunology ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-12 ; blood ; Interleukin-1beta ; blood ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome ; blood ; etiology ; immunology ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; blood ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

PURPOSE: Changes in human body composition can affect the accuracy of spine bone mineral density (BMD) measurements. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether fat and water in the soft tissue of the abdomen influence lumbar spine BMD measurements obtained using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Duplicate BMD measurements were carried out on healthy volunteers (10 men and 10 women) and the Hologic anthropomorphic spine phantom had on the same day before and after placement of following 3 materials in the abdominal area: lard 900 g, 1.5 cm thick; oil 1.4 liters in a vinyl bag; and water 1.2 liters in a vinyl bag. RESULTS: In the case of human participants, following the placement of exogenous water to mimic extracellular fluid (ECF), there was a significant decrease in lumbar spine BMD (-0.012 g/cm2, p=0.006), whereas the placement of exogenous lard and oil to mimic abdominal fat produced a slight increase in lumbar spine BMD (0.006 g/cm2, p=0.301; 0.008 g/cm2, p=0.250, respectively). The average percentage of lumbar spine BMD change with and without exogenous lard, oil, and water showed increase of 0.51%, and 0.67%, and decrease of 1.02%, respectively. Using the phantom, BMD decreased with the placement of both lard (-0.002 g/cm2, p=0.699) and water (-0.006 g/cm2, p=0.153); however, there was no difference in BMD after oil placement. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that in cases where changes in fat and ECF volume are similar, ECF exerts a greater influence than fat on DXA lumbar BMD measurements.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Adult ; Bone Density/*drug effects ; Dietary Fats/pharmacology ; Fats/*pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae/*drug effects/*metabolism ; Male ; Water/*pharmacology

BACKGROUNDVaspin was recently identified as a novel adipokine that is predominantly secreted from adipose tissue and exerts insulin-sensitizing effects. This study was undertaken to elucidate the regulative effects of calorie control on the expression of vaspin and its potential mechanism.

METHODSDiet-induced obese Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were adopted as experimental models and accepted interventions of various ingestions and pioglitazone. Various differentiated stages of cultured 3T3-L1 cells were dealt with pioglitazone or TNFalpha in vitro for 48 hours to further verify findings in animal experiments.

RESULTSThe rats were successfully induced into an obese experimental model with hyperinsulinemia, hyperlipidemia, and increased serum free fatty acid and TNFalpha by 12-week high-fat diet. It was found that depending on whether the rats were fed by a high-fat diet or a basal diet, there was extremely higher vaspin in the periepididymal fat pad than in subcutaneous adipose tissues by 16 weeks. Vaspin in sera and the periepididymal fat pad was much lower in rats with a high-fat diet than those with a basal diet (all P < 0.05), but vaspin in subcutaneous fat tissues was prone to increase in rats with a high-fat diet. A 4-week calorie restriction or pioglitazone on the obese rats resulted in a partial recovery of vaspin levels in sera and periepididymal adipose tissues, especially the latter revealed a more obvious superiority and increased vaspin levels of subcutaneous adipose. Surprisingly, the treatment of 4-week high-fat diet on non-obese rats did not significantly depress vaspin of sera and periepididymal adipose tissues. However, it is unknown if re-feeding generated the effect on vaspin levels of obese and non-obese rats on sera or adipose tissues. The correlation analysis showed that vaspin levels of serum and periepididymal fat tissues were negatively correlated with serum FFA, TNFalpha and insulin; meanwhile, there was a positive correlation between serum vaspin and vaspin of periepididymal fat tissues. Pioglitazone enhanced vaspin levels in cultured 3T3-L1 cells and supernatant in various differentiated stages, and this effect became more and more obvious along with the change of preadipocytes into mature fat cells. Administration of TNFalpha caused suppression on vaspin expression in differentiated stages of 3T3-L1 cells.

CONCLUSIONSThe present data indicated that a long-term high-fat diet could induce obesity metabolic syndrome in SD rats and finally lead to lower vaspin of sera and periepididymal fat, while pioglitazone and chronic calorie-control ingestion could enhance the production of vaspin. It was undoubtedly demonstrated that vaspin expression was strongly associated with insulin sensitivity, serum FFA, and TNFalpha.

3T3-L1 Cells ; Adipose Tissue ; metabolism ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Body Weight ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Dietary Fats ; adverse effects ; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified ; Insulin ; blood ; Male ; Mice ; Obesity ; blood ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serpins ; blood ; metabolism ; Thiazolidinediones ; pharmacology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) on artherosclerosis (AS) and its mechanism in rats.

METHODS125 healthy male SD rats of the weight (210 +/- 10) g were randomly divided into 5 groups: control group, AS model group, AS + low-dose NaHS (2.8 micromol/(kg x d)) group, AS+ middle-dose (14 micromol/(kg x d)) NaHS group, AS+ high-dose NaHS (28 micromol/(kg x d)) group. The atherosclerotic model was established by feeding high grease food and injecting large doses of VitD3. The rats were using NaHS by peritoneal injection for 12 weeks. 5 rats were executed in each group before the experiment and in the weeks of 3, 6, 9, 12 after the experiment, respeotively. The blood fat was analyzed by automatic biochemistry analysator. H2S content in serum was detected by the method of deproteinization. The pathological damage of vessels was observed and scored by HE stain. The expression of VEGF in the vessel tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry staining.

RESULTSCompared with the control group at contemporaneity, both serumal triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol (TC) increased significantly in the AS model group after rat feeded 3, 6, 9, 12 weeks, and scores of the artery pathological damage also increased obviously from the 6th week to the 12th week (P < 0.01), as well as artherosclerosis plaque appeared, displaying as lipid plaque in the positive part. The serumal H2S concentration decreased obviously, from (44.98 +/- 2.06) micromol/L of before feeding to (38.56 +/- 2.26), (32.96 +/- 2.38), (28.63 +/- 0.92), (23.55 +/- 0.92) nnol/L of after feeding 3, 6, 9, and 12 weeks, respectively, and lower than that of control at contemporaneity (44.72 +/- 0.85), (43.71 +/- 0.59), (41.96 +/- 0.97), (39.87 +/- 1.25) micromol/L, respectively ( P < 0.01), and VEGF expression of the vascular tissue also increased (P < 0.01). Compared with the AS model group, all of above indexes in rat of the low-dose of NaHS group did not appear any obvious change. The serumal H2S concentration in rat of the middle-dose NaHS began increase at the 6 week after rat feeded (36.13 +/- 0.3 vs. 32.96 +/- 2.38 micronol/L, P < 0.05), and continuously increased at the 9th and the 12th week (33.07 +/- 1.14 vs. 28.63 +/- 0.92 micromol/L, 30.16 +/- 0.2 vs. 23.55 +/- 0.92 micromol/L; P < 0.01, respectively). The serumal H2S concentration in high-dose NaHS groups, increased from the 3th to the 12th week (41.25 +/- 0.80, 38.71 +/- 0.46, 35.31 +/- 0.62, 33.38 +/- 0.78 micromol/L, respectively, P < 0.01). The rat serumal TC in both middle and high-dose NaHS groups, decreased from the 3th to the 12th week (P < 0.01), and TG began decrease from the 3th and the 6th week to the 12th week after rat feeded, respectively (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Both of the pathological damage scores and the expression of VEGF decrease from the 6th week to the 12th week (P < 0.05). The correlation analysis showed that H2S in serum had a negative correlation with both pathological damage scores (r = -0.917, P < 0.01) and the expression of VEGF (r = -0. 885, P < 0.01). But it had no obvious correlation with serumal TG and TC.

CONCLUSIONThe formation and development of artherosclerosis has a close correlation with the depressing of endogenous H2S. Administration of exogenous H2S could raise the H2S concentration of serum in artherosclerosis, which might improve the damage of vessels and inhibit the expression of VEGF.

Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Cholecalciferol ; administration & dosage ; Dietary Fats ; administration & dosage ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the difference in fatty degree, glucose-lipid disorder and adipose-hormones between diet induced obesity (DIO) rats and diet induced obesity resistance (DIO-R) rats, and to explore the effect and acting mechanism of Chinese drugs for strengthening Pi (CD-SP) and those for both strengthening Pi and dissolving phlegm (CD-SPDP) in inhibiting obesity.

METHODSExcepting eight rats allocated in the blank control group, the other 54 rats were fed with high-lipid forage for 12 weeks to establish models of obesity. Finally, 30 DIO rats and 8 DIO-R rats (shown by their body weight) were obtained. The DIO rats were divided into three groups, which were given gastric perfusion, respectively, with normal saline (Group A), CD-SP (Group B), and CD-SPDP (Group C). Fourteen weeks later, the animals' body weight (BW), length (BL), blood levels of fasting insulin (FIn), fasting glucose (FBG), triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (TC), leptin (LP), neuropeptide Y (NPY), C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-alpha), adiponectin (AN), and resistin (RS) were measured; insulin resistance index (IRI) was calculated, and the degree of obesity and lipid content in abdominal cavity of rats were estimated. Moreover, the levels of LP, CRP, TNF-alpha, AN and RS in homogenate of rats' adipose tissues (ATH) were determined.

RESULTSAfter 12 weeks of high-lipid diet, the BW of DIO rats was higher than that of normal or DIO-R rats. After a 14-week continuous high-lipid diet feeding, in DIO rats, BW, lipid coefficient (LC), and IRI were significantly increased (P<0.01); serum levels of TNF-alpha, LP and AN were lower, NPY was higher, while the ATH levels of LP and AN were lower and TNF-alpha was higher in DIO rats than in DIO-R rats (P<0.05 or P<0.01); blood levels of FBG and lipids in DIO rats showed an increasing trend but was statistically insignificant (P>0.05); no significant difference was found in serum levels of CRP and RS due to the overly high data dispersion. Comparisons of the 3 DIO groups showed that BW, body weight index (BWI), LC and IRI were significantly lowered after treatment (P<0.01) in Group C, while these indexes were not significantly different between Group A and B; the serum levels of TNF-alpha, LP, and AN increased, NPY decreased in Group B and C, ATH levels of LP and AN increased, and TNF-alpha decreased in the two groups; but NPY, LP, and AN in blood and ATH were higher in Group C than those in Group B (P<0.05 or P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONCD-SPDP could inhibit DIO and IR, showing that the effect is better than that of CD-SP, and its mechanism is related to promotion of LP and AN secretion and elevation of serum NPY.

Adipokines ; blood ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Diet, Atherogenic ; Dietary Fats ; adverse effects ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Leptin ; blood ; Male ; Neuropeptide Y ; blood ; Obesity ; blood ; etiology ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Syndrome ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood