Bitter Melon Powder Protects against Obesity-associated Fatty Liver Disease by Improving Colonic Microenvironment in Rats with High-fat Diet-induced Obesity

This study explored how bitter melon powder （BMP） alters the colonic microenvironment during the development of obesity-associated fatty liver in rats. We observed that BMP effectively inhibited the body weight gain and lipid accumulation in the liver, ameliorated glucose intolerance, and increased the colon weight after an 8-week treatment compared to that in the high-fat diet （HFD） group. BMP significantly decreased fecal water toxicity towards HT-29 cells, as revealed by the cell counting kit （CCK）-8 assay results, and the mRNA expression of Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4） in colon mucosa. Additionally, gut permeability in the BMP group was restored to normal levels. Finally, BMP alleviated the inflammatory state of the rat colon mucosa and liver tissues as well as the systemic inflammation.

Effects of Maternal Linseed Oil Supplementation on Metabolic Parameters in Cafeteria Diet-induced Obese Rats

Because linseed oil may influence maternal and fetal metabolisms, we investigated its role in the modulation of lipid metabolism in cafeteria diet-induced obese rats and their offspring. Female Wistar rats were fed control or cafeteria food, which were either supplemented or not supplemented with linseed oil （5%） for I month before and during gestation. At parturition, serum and tissue lipids and enzyme activities were analyzed. Cafeteria diet induced adverse metabolic alterations in both mothers and offspring. Linseed oil improved metabolic status. In conclusion, linseed oil displayed health benefits by modulating tissue enzyme activities in both obese mothers and their newborns.

Comparative study on the difference of obesity model induced by two kinds of high fat diet in Sprague-Dawley rats

Objective: To explore the differences of obese Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats model induced by lard oil high-fat(HF)diet or purified HF diet. Methods: SD weanling rats were randomly divided into three groups: D1 group,where rats were fed by lard oil HF diet;D2 group,where rats were fed by purified HF diet;C group,where rats were fed on chow. After 12 weeks,diet-induced obesity rat(stop 33% based on weight)were selected for further study,and the rest rats from group D1 and D2 were excluded. The food intake and weight were weighted daily and weekly,respectively. The subcutaneous,visceral and total fat contents of rats was measured by 256-row CT scan and the Lee index was calculated accordingly. The kidney,liver,testis,spleen and heart were weighted respectively. Serum leptin and insulin levels were quantified. The pathology in liver and adipose tissues were analyzed by HE staining. Oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT)was used to compare the glucose tolerance ability. Serum total cholestero(lT-CHO),high density lipoprotein(HDL-C),low density lipoprotein(LDL-C),triglyceride(TG)and inflammatory cytokines IL-6,TNF-α were detected as well. Results: After 12 weeks,the body weight,subcutaneous fat,visceral fat,total fat mass,wet weight of liver,kidney and heart,area under blood glucose curve and the levels of serum insulin,leptin,T-CHO,LDL-C,TG,IL-6 and TNF-α in group D2 were significantly increased compared to those of group C and group D1. HDL-C of group D2 was markedly lower than that in group C(P<0. 05). The visceral fat,total fat content and HDL-C in group D1 were significantly different from those of group C(P<0. 05). Steatosis and enlarged adipocyte were found in the livers of rats in group D1 and D2,and the lesions were more significant in group D2. Conclusion: Purified HF diet was more effective in inducing metabolic abnormalities,steatosis,peripheral chronic inflammation in obese SD rat models. But lard oil HF diet was more economical when only inducing visceral steatosis was required.

Changes of Neuronal Activities after Gut Electrical Stimulation with Different Parameters and Locations in Lateral Hypothalamus Area of Obese Rats

This study tested the effects of the gastrointestinal pulse train electrical stimulation with different parameters and at different locations on the neuronal activities of the lateral hypothalamus area（LHA） in obese rats in order to find the optimal stimulation parameter and location. Eight gastric electrical stimulations（GES） with different parameters were performed and the neuronal activities of gastric-distension responsive（GD-R） neurons in LHA were observed. The effects of stimulations with 8 parameters were compared to find the optimal parameter. Then the optimal parameter was used to perform electrical stimulation at duodenum and ileum, and the effects of the duodenal and ileac stimulation on the GD-R neurons in LHA were compared with the gastric stimulation of optimal parameter. The results showed that GES with the lowest energy parameter（0.3 ms, 3 mA, 20 Hz, 2 s on, 3 s off） activated the least neurons. The effects of GES with other parameters whose pulse width was 0.3 ms were not significantly different from those of the lowest energy parameter. Most gastric stimulations whose pulse width was 3 ms activated more LHA neurons than the smallest energy parameter stimulation, and the effects of those 3 ms gastric stimulations were similar. Accordingly, the lowest energy parameter was recognized as the optimal parameter. The effects of stimulations with the optimal parameter at stomach, duodenum and ileum on the LHA neuronal activities were not different. Collectively, gastrointestinal electrical stimulation（GIES） with relatively large pulse width might have stronger effects to the neuronal activities of GD-R neurons in LHA of obese rats. The effects of the GIES at different locations（stomach, duodenum and ileum） on those neurons are similar, and GES is preferential because of its easy clinical performance and safety.

Calorie control increased vaspin levels of serum and periepididymal adipose tissue in diet-induced obese rats in association with serum free fatty acid and tumor necrosis factor alpha

Background Vaspin 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.Methods Diet-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 TNFα in vitro for 48 hours to further verify findings in animal experiments.Results The rats were successfully induced into an obese experimental model with hyperinsulinemia, hyperlipidemia, and increased serum free fatty acid and TNFa 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, TNFα 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 TNFα caused suppression on vaspin expression in differentiated stages of 3T3-L1 cells.Conclusions The 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 TNFα.

Effect of mango seed kernel extract on the adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and in rats fed a high fat diet

Mangoes (Mangifera indica L.) are one of the most important tropical foods. The seed is one of the main by-products of mango processing. Therefore, it is important to find an economically viable use for this waste (e.g., as a food additive or supplement with high nutraceutical value). We investigated the anti-obesity effects of mango seed kernel extract with hot water (MSKE-W) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and in a high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity rat model. MSKE-W caused a significant decrease in the activity of glycerol 2-phosphate dehydrogenase in 3T3-L1 adipocytes without eliciting cell cytotoxicity and inhibited cellular lipid accumulation through down-regulation of transcription factors such as PPARγ and C/EBPα. In the animal model, rats fed an HFD containing 1% MSKE-W gained less weight than rats fed an HFD alone. The visceral fat mass in rats fed an HFD containing 1% MSKE-W tended to be lower than that in rats fed an HFD alone. Furthermore, histological examination of rat livers from an HFD showed steatohepatitis. However, rats on an HFD containning 1% MSKE-W showed no histopathological changes in liver tissue. Our results indicate that MSKE-W influences anti-obesity effects, both in vitro and in vivo, and suggest that MSKE-W provides a novel preventive potential against obesity.

营养性肥胖对大鼠睾丸发育的影响

目的用高脂高热量饲料配方建立营养性肥胖大鼠动物模型,观察营养性肥胖对雄性大鼠睾丸发育的影响。方法用改进的高脂、高热量饲料喂养3周龄SD雄性大鼠6周,观察大鼠体重、睾丸重量、光镜下睾丸组织结构改变,以及血中睾酮(T)和雌二醇(E2)水平,并与对照组进行比较。结果喂养3周后,实验组大鼠平均体重较对照组超重29%,6周后超重30%。光学显微镜下可见实验组大鼠睾丸大部分曲精小管发育欠佳,管腔中4层细胞稀疏,层次紊乱;实验组E2明显高于对照组,TE2明显低于对照组(P<0.05)。结论高脂、高热量饮食可以引起大鼠营养性肥胖;营养性肥胖影响了大鼠的睾丸发育,可能和血中雄性激素水平相对降低有关。