Capsosiphon fulvescens extracts improve obesity‐associated metabolic disorders and hepatic steatosis in high‐fat diet‐induced obese mice

Herbal dietary supplements have attracted more and more attention owing to their relative effectiveness in obesity ‐related metabolic disorders and diseases. This study investigated the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of Capsosiphon fulvescens (CF) extracts on obesity, their associated metabolic disorders and hepatic steatosis in high‐fat diet (HFD)‐induced obese mice. Male C57BL/6 mice were fed with normal, HFD/Vehicle and HFD/CF (orally 300 mg/kg/day for CF). After 12 weeks, CF blocked HFD‐induced body weight, food intake, liver weight, hepatic triglyceride (TG), fat mass (weight of abdominal subcutaneous fat and epididymal adipose tissue) and biochemical parameters (total cohlesterol, glucose, TG, creatinine, high‐density lipoproteins cholesterol and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol) of serum. CF also had improved serum levels of adiponectin, leptin and insulin‐like growth factor‐1 in HFD/CF mice. Moreover, CF ameliorated the hepatic steatosis‐reducing size of white adipose tissue. These results indicate that CF have anti‐obesity effects and are effective for reducing metabolic risk and hepatic steatosis.     

Effect of GABA on oxidative stress in the skeletal muscles and plasma free amino acids in mice fed high‐fat diet

Increased levels of plasma free amino acids (pFAAs) can disturb the blood glucose levels in patients with obesity, diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome (MS) and are associated with enhanced protein oxidation. Oxidation of proteins, especially in the muscles, can promote protein degradation and elevate the levels of pFAAs. Gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA), a food additive, can reduce high‐fat diet (HFD)‐induced hyperglycaemia; however, the mechanisms remain unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of GABA on protein oxidation and pFAAs changes. One hundred male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into five groups that were fed with control diet, HFD and HFD supplied with 0.2%, 0.12% and 0.06% GABA in drinking water for 20 weeks respectively. HFD feeding led to muscular oxidative stress, protein oxidation, pFAA disorders, hyperglycaemia and augmented plasma GABA levels. Treatment with GABA restored normally fasting blood glucose level and dose‐dependently inhibited body weight gains, muscular oxidation and protein degradation. While medium and low doses of GABA mitigated HFD‐induced pFAA disorders, the high dose of GABA deteriorated the pFAA disorders. Medium dose of GABA increased the levels of GABA, but high dose of GABA reduced the levels of plasma GABA and increased the activity of succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase in the liver. Therefore, treatment with GABA mitigated HFD‐induced hyperglycaemia probably by repairing HFD‐induced muscular oxidative stress and pFAA disorders in mice. Our data also suggest that an optimal dose of GABA is crucial for the prevention of excess GABA‐related decrease in the levels of pFAA and GABA as well as obesity.     

Buriti pulp oil did not improve high-fat diet-induced metabolic disorders in c57bl/6 mice

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and obesity are growing in many parts of the world, becoming public health problems. It is proposed that foods with functional properties can assist in the treatment of these diseases. Crude buriti pulp oil (BPO) is a food traditionally consumed by residents in the Pantanal, Cerrado and Brazilian Amazon. It is rich in oleic acid, tocopherols and carotenoids, emerging as a potential functional food. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of the supplementation of BPO on metabolic disorders caused by a high-fat diet. Four groups of C57BL6 mice were used, a lean group with AIN-93M diet and control oil supplementation, an obese group with a high-fat diet and control oil supplementation, and two obese groups with a high-fat diet and BPO supplementation in the amounts of 50 and 100 mg/kg. BPO worsened the metabolic state caused by the high-fat diet, worsening risk factors associated with MetS, as the abdominal circumference and retroperitoneal fat, serum levels of total cholesterol, uric acid, alanine transaminase, glucose and triglycerides, and renal fat, in addition to changes in glycaemic control and oxidative stress markers. C57BL/6 mice fed with a high-fat diet and supplemented with BPO presented a worsening in metabolic risk factors associated with MetS.     

日粮鱼油对高脂日粮饲喂小鼠发情周期和机体产热的影响

本研究旨在探讨鱼油对高脂日粮饲喂小鼠发情周期和机体代谢产热的影响。试验选用36只4周龄C57BL/6 J雌性小鼠,随机分成3组（n=12）：对照组、高脂组和高脂+鱼油组。对照组饲喂标准啮齿动物饲料（AIN-93G）,高脂组和高脂+鱼油组分别饲喂高脂日粮（脂肪提供60%能量）和添加5%鱼油（等能替代猪油）的高脂日粮。试验期间,对小鼠体组成（12周龄）、整体代谢（16周龄）、褐色脂肪温度（18周龄）、体核温度（直肠温度,18周龄）和发情周期（20周龄）等进行检测。试验结束后,眼球采血分离血清,检测促卵泡激素（follicle-stimulating hormone,FSH）和雌二醇（estradiol,E2）的水平。此外,采集皮下脂肪、腹部脂肪和肩胛间褐色脂肪,称重并使用Western blot检测脂肪组织中产热相关基因的蛋白表达（UCP1、Cyto C）,使用实时荧光定量PCR检测褐色脂肪组织中产热基因的mRNA表达（UCP1, PRDM16,PGC1α,Cidea,Elovl3）。结果显示,与对照组相比,高脂日粮显著增加了小鼠的体脂含量（12周龄）及皮下和腹部脂肪的沉积量（21周龄）（P<0.05）,而添加鱼油显著降低了高脂饮食引起的体脂含量增加（P<0.05）。另外,高脂日粮导致小鼠的发情周期紊乱,伴随着周期延长、发情期缩短,以及血清中FSH和E2的水平降低（P<0.05）,而添加鱼油可缓解高脂日粮导致的小鼠发情周期紊乱,提高血清中FSH和E2的水平（P<0.05）。同时,添加鱼油可增加高脂饲喂小鼠肩胛间褐色脂肪（interscapular brown adipose tissue,iBAT）和腹股沟白色脂肪（inguinal white adipose tissue,iWAT）中产热相关基因的表达（P<0.05）,进而促进iBAT激活/产热和iWAT褐色化。结果提示,日粮鱼油可缓解高脂日粮导致的发情周期紊乱,可能与BAT激活和WAT褐色化造成的机体代谢产热增强有关。     

Myostatin null mice respond differently to dietary‐induced and genetic obesity

Our objective was to determine sensitivity of myostatin null (MN) mice to obesity induction by dietary or genetic means. To induce dietary obesity, 3‐week‐old wild type (WT) and MN mice were fed diets with 60% calories (HF) or 10% calories from fat (LF) for 4 weeks. MN mice did gain body fat on the HF diet but to a lesser extent than WT mice. Body weight and fat content was similar in MN mice fed HF and LF diets. To induce genetic obesity, the MN mutation was incorporated into leptin db/db (DB) mice generating mice homozygous for each mutation (MNDB). Nine‐week‐old MNDB mice were obese, similar to DB mice. Body weight, body fat content, fat pad weight and adipocyte size were all increased in MNDB mice compared to MN and WT mice and were quite similar to DB mice. However, fasting blood glucose, an indicator of insulin resistance and diabetes, was reduced in MNDB mice compared to DB mice. These results indicate that MN mice gain less body fat than WT on a HF diet, but the MN mutation does not alter fat accumulation caused by DB mutation. Thus, MN mice are not always resistant to obesity development.     

Effects of novel vaccines on weight loss in diet-induced-obese （DIO） mice

The purpose of the study was to test the therapeutic effects of novel vaccines for reducing weight gain and increasing weight loss in diet induced obesity (DIO) model. Male C57BL/6 J mice, fed a 60% Kcal fat diet for 8 weeks prior to the start of the study, were vaccinated via the intraperitoneal route with two formulations (JH17 & JH18) of chimeric-somatostatin vaccines at 1 and 22 days of the study. Control mice were injected with PBS. All mice continued to be feed the 60% Kcal fat diet for the 6 week study. Body weights were measured two times a week and food intake was measured weekly. At week 6, mice were euthanized and a terminal bleed was made and antibody levels to somatostatin and levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) were determined. Vaccination with both vaccine formulations induced a statistically significant body weight change over the study period, as compared with PBS controls. Percentage of baseline body weight was also significantly affected by vaccination during the study period. Vaccinates finished the study at 104% and 107% of baseline weight, JH17 & JH18 respectively, while untreated controls reached 115% of baseline weight. Food intake per mouse was similar in all mouse groups during the entire study. Control mice did not demonstrate any antibody titers to somatostatin, while all vaccinated mice had measurable antibody responses (> 1:500,000 titer). IGF-1 levels were not statistically significant among the groups, but were elevated in the JH18 vaccinates (mean 440.4 ng/mL) when compared with PBS controls (mean 365.6 ng/mL). Vaccination with either JH17 or JH18 chimeric-somatostatin vaccines produced a statistically significant weight loss as compared with PBS controls (P < 0.0001), even though the DIO mice with continually fed a 60% Kcal fat diet. The weight loss/lower weight gain observations were even more significant, as all mice consumed similar amounts of food for the entire study. The presence of high levels of anti-somatostatin antibodies at 6 weeks was correlative with the weight observations and confirmed the success of vaccination.     

The response of adipose tissues to Mycoplasma pulmonis and Sendai virus infection in C57BL/6 and DBA/2 mice

Adipose tissues in mammals are categorized into white and brown adipose tissues in which cellular morphology, cell functions, and tissue distribution are different. White adipose tissue (WAT) plays a major role in energy reservation, while brown adipose tissue (BAT) mainly relates to the thermoregulation of the body. One interesting function of adipose tissue is the response to the infection, especially the pathogens that cause pneumonia. We have previously reported that DBA/2 (D2) mice are susceptible to pathogens causing pneumonia, Mycoplasma (M.) pulmonis and Sendai virus (SeV), whereas C57BL/6 (B6) mice are resistant to them. Furthermore, morphological alteration of mediastinal fat tissue (MFT) was seen after infection of M. pulmonis in D2 mice but not in B6 mice. In this study, we aimed to exhibit the difference in adipose tissue response in other areas, including interscapular brown adipose tissue (iBAT), inguinal white adipose tissue (ingWAT), and perigonadal WAT (perigoWAT) between resistant strain, B6 and susceptible strain, D2 after challenging them with M. pulmonis and SeV. Compared with B6 mice, D2 mice showed an increase in fat-associated lymphoid cluster in MFT, an increase in BAT in both iBAT and ingWAT after M. pulmonis and SeV infection. The results of this study indicate that pneumonia caused by M. pulmonis and SeV infection induces browning of adipocyte, suggesting that BAT plays a role in pathogen infection and inflammation.     

高脂高果糖饮食对老年小鼠视网膜形态结构的影响

【目的】探讨高脂高果糖饮食对老年小鼠视网膜形态结构改变的影响。【方法】将12只4周龄的SPF级雄性C57BL/6J小鼠饲养至12月龄后分成普通饮食组（ND）和高脂高果糖饮食组（HFHFD），每组6只，普通饮食组饲喂普通饲料，高脂高果糖饮食组饲喂高脂高果糖饲料，18月龄取眼球，左眼球用眼球固定液固定，右眼球冻存备用；采用HE染色法观察小鼠视网膜组织结构改变情况，采用免疫组织化学法（IHC）检测小鼠视网膜组织中磷酸化乙酰辅酶A羧化酶（p-ACC）表达，采用免疫荧光（IF）法检测视网膜组织中固醇调节元件结合蛋白-1（SREBP1）的表达情况，采用Western bloting法检测p-ACC、p-AMPK、SREBP1蛋白的表达水平。【结果】HE染色结果显示，与普通饮食组相比，高脂高果糖饮食组视网膜组织出现视杆和视椎层厚度不均匀，局部增生，延伸入外颗粒层，细胞排列疏松等现象；免疫组化结果显示，与普通饮食组相比，高脂高果糖饮食组p-ACC表达水平显著下降（P＜0.05）；免疫荧光结果显示，与普通饮食组相比，高脂高果糖饮食组SREBP1蛋白表达显著增加（P＜0.05）；Western bloting结果显示，与普通饮食组相比，高脂高果糖饮食组p-AMPK和p-ACC蛋白表达水平均显著降低（P＜0.05），SREBP1蛋白表达水平显著升高（P＜0.05）。【结论】高脂高果糖饮食可诱导老年小鼠视网膜病变，抑制AMPK的活化，降低p-ACC的表达，升高SREBP1的表达，结果可为进一步探索高脂高果糖饮食影响视网膜结构改变的机制提供参考。     

Sequence analysis and expression of Nramp-1 gene in Bcgr and Bcgs mice.

Nucleic acid sequence of complemental DNA open reading frame for Nramp-1 gene was compared among DBA/2 (Bcgr), C57BL/6 (Bcgs) and C57BL/6-Bcgr mice which was previously developed as M. avium-resistant mouse strain (Xu, et al. Veterinary Microbiology 50:73-79 (1996). Total RNA was isolated from various organs of DBA/2, C57BL/6 and C57BL/6-Bcgr. Nramp-1 cDNA was constructed from their mRNAs by gene amplification (PCR) technique and their open reading frame sequences were compared. The results clearly showed that our C57BL/6-Bcgr was almost identical with the DNA sequence of the DBA/2 mice. In contrast, C57BL/6-Bcgs mice differed only on the substitution of adenine for guanine of the nucleic acid at position 596. This corresponded to the site of amino acid substitution (glycine to asparate) at position 169 in predicted NRAMP which had been reported. The expression of Nramp-1 mRNA was more prominent in spleens and livers and there appeared to be no significant difference among the strains of mice.     

Effects of novel vaccines on weight loss in diet-induced-obese (DIO) mice

The purpose of the study was to test the therapeutic effects of novel vaccines for reducing weight gain and increasing weight loss in diet induced obesity (DIO) model. Male C57BL/6 J mice, fed a 60% Kcal fat diet for 8 weeks prior to the start of the study, were vaccinated via the intraperitoneal route with two formulations (JH17 & JH18) of chimeric-somatostatin vaccines at 1 and 22 days of the study. Control mice were injected with PBS. All mice continued to be feed the 60% Kcal fat diet for the 6 week study. Body weights were measured two times a week and food intake was measured weekly. At week 6, mice were euthanized and a terminal bleed was made and antibody levels to somatostatin and levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) were determined. Vaccination with both vaccine formulations induced a statistically significant body weight change over the study period, as compared with PBS controls. Percentage of baseline body weight was also significantly affected by vaccination during the study period. Vaccinates finished the study at 104% and 107% of baseline weight, JH17 & JH18 respectively, while untreated controls reached 115% of baseline weight. Food intake per mouse was similar in all mouse groups during the entire study. Control mice did not demonstrate any antibody titers to somatostatin, while all vaccinated mice had measurable antibody responses (> 1:500,000 titer). IGF-1 levels were not statistically significant among the groups, but were elevated in the JH18 vaccinates (mean 440.4 ng/mL) when compared with PBS controls (mean 365.6 ng/mL). Vaccination with either JH17 or JH18 chimeric –somatostatin vaccines produced a statistically significant weight loss as compared with PBS controls (P < 0.0001), even though the DIO mice with continually fed a 60% Kcal fat diet. The weight loss/lower weight gain observations were even more significant, as all mice consumed similar amounts of food for the entire study. The presence of high levels of anti-somatostatin antibodies at 6 weeks was correlative with the weight observations and confirmed the success of vaccination.     

Fundamentals of host immune response against Brucella abortus: what the mouse model has revealed about control of infection

The studies reviewed here evaluated the role cellular immune system components play in control of brucellosis by conducting comparative studies with brucella-resistant C57BL/10 or C57BL/6 mice and susceptible BALB/c mice. We have shown by both in vitro and in vivo studies that activation of macrophages with interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) is an important factor for control of infection with B. abortus in the mouse model and that the mechanism of anti-brucella activity largely involved reactive oxygen intermediates. Differences in control of the organism by resistant and susceptible mice was not related to inherent differences in the ability of their macrophages to control infection either with or without IFN-γ activation nor was it attributable to NK cells since we found no role for them in control of brucellosis in either mouse strain. However, relative resistance to brucellosis did correlate with increased production of IFN-γ by CD4 T cells during the first weeks after infection while IL-10 contributed to susceptibility in BALB/c mice. Moreover, by 3 weeks post-infection splenocytes from the susceptible BALB/c mice failed to produce IFN-γ and relied on TNF- as well as CD8 T cells to control infection until the end of the plateau phase around 6 weeks post-infection when IFN-γ production resumed and clearance began. In contrast, IFN-γ was crucial for control throughout the infection in the more resistant C57BL/6 mice and the mice died in its absence by 6 weeks post-infection compared to 12 weeks for the more susceptible mice that relied on additional mechanisms of control. In contrast to the IFN-γ knock-out mice, both β2 microglobulin knock-out C57BL/6 mice, which do not express conventional MHC class I molecules and thus cannot present antigen to CD8 T cells, or perforin knock-out C57BL/6 mice, which have no T cell cytotoxic activity, controlled and cleared the infection as well as normal C57BL/6 mice. The hiatus of IFN-γ production in BALB/c mice correlated with very high levels of total IL-12 and it was postulated that the lack of IFN-γ was a consequence of p40 homodimer blocking activity. However, reduction of p40 IL-12 in vivo through administration of indomethacin reduced the infection without a concomitant measurable increase in IFN-γ. Current studies are aimed at elucidating the mechanism of the IFN-γ hiatus.     

高蛋白膳食对小鼠胰腺功能的氧化损伤

为探讨高蛋白膳食对小鼠胰腺功能的影响,试验选用30只C57BL/6J雄性小鼠,按体重随机分成对照组、高蛋白组和抗氧化剂组3组。试验2周后处死小鼠,取胰腺组织进行检测。结果表明,与对照组相比,高蛋白组MDA显著升高（P＜0.05）,SOD、GSH-Px活性和T-AOC显著下降（P＜0.05）,脏器中胰腺重影响较大,表现为显著增加,蛋白质、DNA和RNA浓度显著提高,消化酶活性显著降低,生长抑素和胰岛素水平显著提高（P＜0.05）。添加抗氧化剂—半胱胺后,自由基水平被降低,抗氧化能力被提高,胰腺功能也有所改善。因此,高蛋白膳食可通过破坏胰腺氧化和抗氧化平衡状态,增加自由基对胰腺内外分泌功能的氧化应激损伤。     

玉米RNA对小鼠脂肪沉积的影响

本试验旨在探讨玉米RNA对小鼠脂肪沉积的影响。将20只28日龄C57BL/6J小鼠随机分为2组,每组10个重复,每个重复1只小鼠。对照组灌服生理盐水,试验组灌服玉米RNA(100μg/d),试验期4周。试验结束时检测小鼠的生长性能、血清生化指标、体组成、体成像、器官指数及脂肪相关基因的表达。结果显示:试验组小鼠体重和附睾脂肪组织指数显著低于对照组(P<0.05),且整体脂肪含量明显减少,表明小鼠脂肪沉积减少。血脂检测结果显示,与对照组相比,试验组血清球蛋白(GLB)含量显著增加(P<0.05),高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)和总胆固醇(TC)含量极显著增加(P<0.01);脂肪相关基因检测结果显示,与对照组相比,试验组脂肪合成相关基因脂肪酸合成酶(FAS)和CCAAT增强子结合蛋白α(C/EBP-α)mRNA相对表达量极显著上调(P<0.01),过氧化物酶体增殖剂激活受体-γ(PPAR-γ)及脂肪分解基因脂肪甘油三酯脂肪酶(ATGL)和激素敏感脂酶(HSL)mRNA相对表达量显著上调(P<0.05),表明小鼠脂肪合成和脂肪分解增加。综上所述,玉米RNA能同时促进小鼠脂肪合成代谢和脂肪分解代谢,最终抑制脂肪沉积,为植物源核酸调控动物脂肪沉积影响因素的探索提供新证据。     

Obese mice on a high‐fat alternate‐day fasting regimen lose weight and improve glucose tolerance

Alternate‐day fasting (ADF) causes body weight (BW) loss in humans and rodents. However, it is not clear that ADF while maintaining a high‐fat (HF) diet results in weight loss and the accompanying improvement in control of circulating glucose. We tested the hypotheses that a high‐fat ADF protocol in obese mice would result in (i) BW loss, (ii) improved glucose control, (iii) fluctuating phenotypes on ‘fasted’ days when compared to ‘fed’ days and (iv) induction of torpor on ‘fasted days’. We evaluated the physiological effects of ADF in diet‐induced obese mice for BW, heart rate (HR), body temperature (T_b), glucose tolerance, insulin responsiveness, blood parameters (leptin, insulin, free fatty acids) and hepatic gene expression. Diet‐induced obese male C57BL/6J mice lost one‐third of their pre‐diet BW while on an ADF diet for 10 weeks consisting of HF food. The ADF protocol improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, although mice on a fast day were less glucose tolerant than the same mice on a fed day. ADF mice on a fast day had low circulating insulin, but had an enhanced response to an insulin‐assisted glucose tolerance test, suggesting the impaired glucose tolerance may be a result of insufficient insulin production. On fed days, ADF mice were the warmest, had a high HR and displayed hepatic gene expression and circulating leptin that closely mimicked that of mice fed an ad lib HF diet. ADF mice never entered torpor as assessed by HR and T_b. However, on fast days, they were the coolest, had the slowest HR, and displayed hepatic gene expression and circulating leptin that closely mimicked that of Chow‐Fed mice. Collectively, the ADF regimen with a HF diet in obese mice results in weight loss, improved blood glucose control, and daily fluctuations in selected physiological and biochemical parameters in the mouse.     

Effects of dietary heme iron and exercise training on abdominal fat accumulation and lipid metabolism in high‐fat diet‐fed mice

Animal by‐products can be recycled and used as sources of essential nutrients. Water‐soluble heme iron (WSHI), a functional food additive for supplementing iron, is produced by processing animal blood. In this study, we investigated the effects of dietary supplementation of 3% WSHI and exercise training for 4 weeks on the accumulation of abdominal fat and lipid metabolism in mice fed high‐fat diet. Exercise‐trained mice had significantly less perirenal adipose tissue, whereas WSHI‐fed mice tended to have less epididymal adipose tissue. In addition, total weight of abdominal adipose tissues was significantly decreased in the Exercise + WSHI group. Dietary WSHI significantly increased the messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of lipoprotein lipase and hormone‐sensitive lipase. WSHI‐fed mice also tended to show increased mRNA levels of adipose triglyceride lipase in their epididymal adipose tissue. Dietary WSHI also significantly decreased the mRNA levels of fatty acid oxidation‐related enzymes in the liver, but did not influence levels in the Gastrocnemius muscle. Exercise training did not influence the mRNA levels of lipid metabolism‐related enzymes in the epididymal adipose tissue, liver or the Gastrocnemius muscle. These findings suggest that the accumulation of abdominal fat can be efficiently decreased by the combination of dietary WSHI and exercise training in mice fed high‐fat diet.     

Interleukin-6 is produced during both murine and avian Eimeria infections

The production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) during Eimeria infection was investigated in an attempt to gain a better understanding of the role of this multi-functional cytokine in resistance to this parasite. IL-6 production was measured in both chickens, in which the disease is of economic importance, and the better-characterised murine model system.Systemic and local IL-6 production in mice during E. vermiformis infection was investigated, in the relatively resistant BALB/c strain, and the relatively susceptible C57 BL/6 strain, using a murine IL-6 ELISA and the 7TD1 assay. Enhanced systemic production of IL-6 in serum was seen in infected BALB/c mice when compared to C57 BL/6 mice. This difference was also reflected in the draining lymph node of the site of infection, assessed by testing supernatants from stimulated mesenteric lymph node cells taken from infected mice at different times post-infection.Production of chicken IL-6-like factor activity was investigated using a murine IL-6 7TD1 bioassay. The presence of substantial quantities of IL-6-like factor activity was detected in serum taken from some chickens infected with E. tenella during the course of primary infection and, in a separate experiment, during the first few hours post-infection, a time when the pro-inflammatory capacity of IL-6 would influence the developing immune response. These results suggest that IL-6 is also important in the induction of immune effector responses to Eimeria infections in the chicken.     

Combining ultrasound and lactobacilli treatment for high‐fat‐diet‐induced obesity in mice

Chronic systemic lipopolysaccharide‐induced inflammation can cause obesity. In animal experiments, lactobacilli have been shown to inhibit obesity by modifying the gut microbiota, controlling inflammation and influencing the associated gene expression. A previous study found that high‐fat‐diet‐induced (HFD) obesity was suppressed by lactobacilli ingestion in rats via the inhibition of parasympathetic nerve activity. This study explored the combined use of lactobacilli ingestion and ultrasound (US) to control body weight and body fat deposition in HFD mice over an 8‐week experimental period. Male C57BL/6J mice received an HFD during treatment and were randomly divided into four groups: (i) control group (H), (ii) lactobacilli alone (HB), (iii) US alone (HU) and (iv) lactobacilli combined with US (HUB). The US was targeted at the inguinal portion of the epididymal fat pad on the right side. At the 8th week, body weight had decreased significantly in the HUB group (15.56 ± 1.18%, mean ± SD) group compared with the HU (26.63 ± 0.96%) and H (32.62 ± 5.03%) groups (p < 0.05). High‐resolution microcomputed tomography (micro‐CT) scans revealed that the reduction in total body fat volume was significantly greater in the HUB group (69%) than in the other two experimental groups (HB, 52%; HU, 37%; p < 0.05). The reductions in the thickness of the subcutaneous epididymal fat pads were significantly greater in the HUB group (final thickness: 340 ± 7 μm) than in the H (final thickness: 1150 ± 21 μm), HB (final thickness: 1060 ± 18 μm) and HU (final thickness: 370 ± 5 μm) groups (all p < 0.05). Combination therapy with lactobacilli and US appears to enhance the reduction in body weight, total and local body fat deposition, adipocyte size and plasma lipid levels over an 8‐week period over that achieved with lactobacilli or US alone in HFD mice. These results indicate that US treatment alone can reduce hyperlipidemia in HFD mice.     

Differences in triglyceride and cholesterol metabolism and resistance to obesity in male and female vitamin D receptor knockout mice

A lean phenotype has been detected in vitamin D receptor (VDR) knockout mice; however, the gender differences in fat metabolism between male and female mice both with age and in response to a high‐fat diet have not been studied before. The objective of our study was to assess changes in body and fat tissue weight, food intake and serum cholesterol and triglyceride in VDR knockout mice from weaning to adulthood and after a challenge of adult animals with a high‐fat diet. Although VDR knockout mice of both sexes consumed more food than wild‐type and heterozygous littermates, their body weight and the weight of fat depots was lower after 6 months on a diet with 5% crude fat content. When adult animals were challenged with a high‐fat diet containing 21% crude fat content for 8 weeks, VDR knockout mice of both sexes had a significantly higher food intake but gained less weight than their wild‐type littermates. Cholesterol levels were higher after 2 days on the high‐fat diet in both sexes, but in the VDR knockout mice, less cholesterol was detected in the serum after 8 weeks. Wild‐type male mice showed signs of fatty liver disease at the end of the experiment, which was not detected in the other groups. In conclusion, lack of the VDR receptor results in reduced fat accumulation with age and when adult mice are fed a high‐fat diet, despite a higher food intake of VDR knockout mice relative to their wild‐type littermates. These effects can be detected in both sexes. Wild‐type male mice react with the highest weight gain and cholesterol levels of all groups and develop fatty liver disease after 8 weeks on a high‐fat diet, while male VDR knockout mice appear to be protected.     

Comparative evaluation of rumen-protected fat, coconut oil and various oilseeds supplemented to fattening bulls. 2. Effects on composition and oxidative stability of adipose tissues.

The effects of five different dietary fat supplements on fatty acid composition and oxidative stability of subcutaneous and kidney fat were evaluated in 36 Brown Swiss bulls and compared to a low fat diet in a monofactorial design. The following fat supplements were provided as additional fat at 30 g per kg feed dry matter: crystalline rumen-protected fat, coconut oil, and three types of crushed whole oilseeds (rapeseed, sunflower seed and linseed). Adipose tissues reflected differences (P < 0.05) in dietary fatty acid composition although to a lower extent. Using protected fat, which contained elevated levels of trans fatty acids, and sunflower seed, containing a high proportion of linoleic acid, significantly increased C18:1 trans fatty acid proportion in the adipose tissues. The use of sunflower seed increased conjugated linoleic acid. The oilseeds resulted in lower amounts of C16:0 in favour of C18:0. Except for linseed, all fat supplemented groups improved oxidative stability of adipose tissues as compared with control. This was explained by lower proportions of unsaturated fatty acids in adipose tissue (protected fat), by elevated alpha-tocopherol contents (rapeseed, sunflower seed) or by a combination of both (coconut oil). Fat colour remained unaffected by treatments. Compared to other fat supplements oilseeds, especially sunflower seed and rapeseed, can therefore be recommended to be fed to bulls in order to increase the proportions of C18 unsaturated fatty acids in adipose tissues and to maintain or improve oxidative stability.