Diet-induced central obesity and insulin resistance in rabbits

The present study was designed to examine whether rabbits fed a diet containing high fat and sucrose could develop obesity and insulin resistance (IR), the major pathophysiological features of metabolic syndrome. Male Japanese white rabbits were fed either a normal chow diet (control) or high fat and sucrose diet (HFSD) for 36 weeks. Plasma levels of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), glucose and insulin were measured. To evaluate glucose metabolism, we performed an intravenous glucose tolerance test. In addition, we compared adipose tissue accumulation in HFSD-fed rabbits with that in normal rabbits. HFSD constantly and significantly led to an increase in body weight of HFSD-fed rabbits, caused by significantly higher visceral adipose tissue accumulation. Although there were no differences in plasma TG, TC, glucose, insulin levels and blood pressure between the two groups, HFSD-fed rabbits showed impaired glucose clearance associated with higher levels of insulin secretion compared to control rabbits. Our results showed that HFSD induced IR and increased adipose accumulation in rabbits, suggesting that HFSD-fed rabbits may become a model for research on human IR and obesity.     

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。     

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.     

Cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation in the dentate gyrus of high-fat diet-fed mice are increased after rosiglitazone treatment

In this study, we determined how rosiglitazone (RSG) differentially affected hippocampal neurogenesis in mice fed a low-fat diet (LFD) or high-fat diet (HFD; 60% fat). LFD and HFD were given to the mice for 8 weeks. Four weeks after initiating the LFD and HFD feeding, vehicle or RSG was administered orally once a day to both groups of mice. We measured cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus using Ki67 and doublecortin (DCX), respectively, as markers. In addition, we monitored the effects of RSG on the levels of DCX and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in hippocampal homogenates. At 8 weeks after the LFD feeding, the numbers of Ki67- and DCX-positive cells as well as hippocampal levels of DCX and BDNF were significantly decreased in the RSG-treated group compared to the vehicle-treated animals. In contrast, the numbers of Ki67- and DCX-positive cells along with hippocampal levels of DCX and BDNF in the HFD fed mice were significantly increased in the RSG-treated mice compared to the vehicle-treated group. Our data demonstrate that RSG can modulate the levels of BDNF, which could play a pivotal role in cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation in the hippocampal dentate gyrus.     

Effects of dietary fat and energy on body weight and composition after gonadectomy in cats

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of dietary fat and energy density on body weight gain, body composition, and total energy expenditure (TEE) in neutered and sexually intact cats. ANIMALS: 12 male and 12 female cats PROCEDURE: Male cats were castrated (castrated male [CM]) or underwent no surgical procedure (sexually intact male [IM]). Female cats underwent ovariectomy (spayed female [SF]) or laparotomy and ligation of both uterine tubes without ovary removal (sexually intact female [IF]). Cats were fed either the low-fat (LF) or high-fat (HF) diet for 26 weeks, with the final allocation consisting of 8 groups: IF-LF IF-HE SF-LF, SF-HF IM-LF, IM-HF, CM-LF, and CM-HF. Mean food intake for each group was recorded daily, and body weight was monitored weekly throughout the study. Body composition and TEE were measured before surgery in week 0 and at the end of the study (week 26) by isotope dilution (double-labelled water). RESULTS: N eutered cats gained significantly more body fat and body weight (53.80+/-5.79%) than sexually intact cats (27.11+/-5.79%) during the study. Body weight gain of neutered cats fed the HF diet was greater than those fed the LF diet. Following correction for body composition, TEE was similar in all groups and no pattern towards increased food intake was evident. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Weight gain in neutered cats was decreased by feeding an LF, low energy-dense diet. To prevent weight gain in cats after neutering, a suitable LF diet should be fed in carefully controlled meals rather than ad libitum.     

Perinatal maternal feeding with an energy dense diet and/or micronutrient mixture drives offspring fat distribution depending on the sex and growth stage

Maternal nutrition during pregnancy and lactation influences offspring development and health. Novel studies have described the effects on next generation obesity‐related features depending on maternal macro‐ and micro‐nutrient perinatal feeding. We hypothesized that the maternal obesogenic diet during pregnancy and lactation programs an obese phenotype, while maternal micronutrient supplementation at these stages could partially prevent these features. Thus, the aim was to assess the influence of a perinatal maternal feeding with an obesogenic diet enriched in fat and sucrose and a micronutrient supplementation during pregnancy and lactation on offspring growth and obese phenotypical features during life course. Female Wistar rats were assigned to four dietary groups during pregnancy and lactation: control, control supplemented with micronutrients (choline, betaine, folic acid and vitamin B₁₂), high‐fat sucrose (HFS) and HFS supplemented. At weaning, the offspring were transferred to a chow diet, and weight and fat mass were measured at weeks 3, 12 and 20. At birth, both male and female offspring from mothers fed the obesogenic diet showed lower body weight (?5 and ?6%, respectively), while only female offspring weight decreased by maternal micronutrient supplementation (?5%). During lactation, maternal HFS diet was associated with increased body weight, while micronutrient supplementation protected against body weight gain. Whole body fat mass content increased at weeks 3, 12 and 20 (from 16 to 65%) due to maternal HFS diet. Maternal micronutrient supplementation decreased offspring fat mass content at week 3 (?8%). Male offspring showed higher adiposity than females at weeks 12 and 20. In conclusion, maternal HFS feeding during pregnancy and lactation was associated with a low offspring weight at birth and obese phenotypical features during adult life in a sex‐ and time‐dependent manner. Furthermore, maternal methyl donor supplementation protected against body weight gain in male offspring during lactation and in female offspring also during juvenile period.     

家兔体重与血清瘦素及肾功能关系研究

为探讨家兔的体重与血浆瘦素水平及肾功能的关系,将30只断奶,40日龄的健康雌性新西兰白兔按体重编号后,按随机数字表分为正常对照组(n=10),过饲组(n=10)及限饲组(n=10)3个组。分别通过不同的饲养方式,即对照组按兔子的营养标准正常饲喂,过饲组在正常对照组日饲喂量的基础上增加30%,限饲组则在正常对照组日饲喂量的基础上减少30%,饲养12周后,对各组的体重进行差异显著性检验,过饲组和限饲组的体重与对照组比较差异显著,具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。随后,分别测定血清瘦素(Lp)水平和肾功能指标尿素氮(BUN)、尿酸(UA)、肌酐(SCr)、总蛋白(TP)。结果表明,限饲组和过饲组的血清Lp水平均高于对照组,而且限饲组的血清Lp水平甚至高于过饲组(P<0.05);限饲组血清UA、SCr、BUN均高于对照组和过饲组(P<0.05),而过饲组与对照组相比无明显变化;限饲组血清TP低于对照组和过饲组(P<0.05),而过饲组与对照组相比无明显变化。由于动物限饲出现了营养不良、体重降低,会引发肾功能受损并伴随出现高瘦素血症情况;而肾功能受损和高水平的血清瘦素则加剧了机体的营养不良,从而导致体重的进一步下降。     

Effect of dietary levels of vitamin E (all-rac-tocopheryl acetate) with or without added fat on weanling pig performance and tissue alpha-tocopherol concentration

Two experiments involving 496 cross-bred pigs evaluated the efficacy of various dietary levels of vitamin E, with or without supplemental fat, on postweaning pig performance and weekly serum and terminal tissue alpha-tocopherol concentrations. The first trial involved 248 pigs weaned at an average of 15 d of age and 4.8 kg BW. The experiment was a randomized complete block design conducted in seven replicates. Vitamin E was added as dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate at 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 150, or 200 IU/kg diet. Pigs were bled initially and at 7-d intervals for a 42-d period. Liver and s.c. adipose tissue samples were collected from six pigs per treatment group at 42 d. In Exp. 2, a 2 x 4 factorial arrangement of treatments in a randomized complete block design was conducted in seven replicates. The experiment used a total of 248 pigs weaned at 19 d of age and averaged 6.4 kg BW. Four vitamin E levels (0, 20, 40, and 60 IU/kg diet) and two added fat levels of 0 or 5% were fed for 35 d. Four pigs per treatment pen were bled weekly, and at 35 d a total of four pigs per treatment group were killed and liver, heart, and s.c. adipose tissues were collected and analyzed for alpha-tocopherol. The basal diet in both experiments contained an average 7.9 IU for period 1, and later diets averaged 11.0 IU vitamin E/kg. In both experiments serum alpha-tocopherol concentrations declined from weaning to 7 d after weaning and continued to decline each week after weaning when the basal diets were fed. Serum alpha-tocopherol concentrations increased (P < 0.01) each week as the dietary vitamin E level increased in both experiments. In Exp. 2, when fat was added to the diet serum alpha-tocopherol concentrations were higher (P < 0.01) than in diets without added fat. Liver, heart muscle, and adipose tissue alpha-tocopherol concentrations increased (P < 0.01) as vitamin E level increased, but at the higher dietary vitamin E level the liver surpassed the adipose tissue in its alpha-tocopherol concentration. Liver and adipose alpha-tocopherol concentrations were higher (P < 0.01) when fat was added to the diet. These results indicate that supplementation of 40 to 60 IU/kg diet with added fat resulted in a relatively constant balance of serum and tissue concentration of alpha-tocopherol during the nursery period, but when fat was not supplemented a dietary vitamin E level of 80 to 100 IU/kg diet may be needed. The current NRC recommendations for vitamin E for the pig from 5 to 20 kg BW may need to be reevaluated.     

日粮共轭亚油酸对不同性别肉仔鸡生长性能及脂肪代谢相关酶的影响

试验采用2×2因子设计(日粮类型0%或1%CLA,肉鸡性别)研究日粮CLA对不同性别肉仔鸡生长性能、屠体性状和脂肪代谢相关酶的影响。结果表明:日粮中添加1%CLA可以显著增加各性别肉仔鸡各阶段的体增重,并改善了4～6、0～6周的饲料转化效率(P<0.05),可以显著提高各性别肉仔鸡的胸肌率、同时显著降低各性别肉仔鸡的腹脂率(P<0.05),显著降低了各性别肉仔鸡腹脂脂蛋白脂酶(LPL)活性及其mRNA相对表达量(P<0.05),显著降低了各性别肉仔鸡腹脂及肝脏硬脂酰辅酶A去饱和酶(SCD)mRNA相对表达量(P<0.05)。另外除体增重部分指标外,性别和日粮CLA对肉仔鸡屠体性状和脂肪代谢相关酶的影响不存在互作关系。     

不同填饲量对北京鸭胴体品质、体脂沉积和营养物质表观消化率的影响

旨在研究不同填饲量对北京鸭胴体品质、体脂沉积及营养物质表观消化率的影响。选取35日龄健康、大小均匀的W系雄性北京鸭96只,随机分成8个处理,每处理6个重复,每个重复2只鸭。基础日粮中加入0.5%的Cr2O3作为外源指示剂测定填鸭营养物质表观消化率,对照组自由采食,试验组在35和36日龄时分别填饲260和300g.d-1的基础日粮,之后5d各处理填饲量保持不变,分别为300、330、360、390、420、450、480g.d-1,试验期为7d。结果表明:(1)不同填饲量对北京鸭屠体率、全净膛率、胸肌率、腿肌质量和腿肌率影响不大(P>0.05),而对北京鸭胸肌质量影响显著(P<0.05),并随填饲量的增加呈现先升高后平稳的趋势,以胸肌质量为评定指标,采用直线折线模型进行估算的最适填饲量为390.7g.d-1。不同填饲量对北京鸭皮脂质量、皮脂率、腹脂质量、腹脂率、肝脏质量、肝重率和肝脂率均有显著的影响(P<0.05),但填饲量增加到一定值后,体脂沉积量保持稳定(P>0.05);(2)在填饲期,不同填饲量对北京鸭干物质和粗蛋白表观消化率影响显著(P<0.05),而对能量表观消化率影响不大(P>0.05)。以上结果表明,填饲能够快速增加北京鸭的体脂沉积,对胸肌生长发育影响显著,但随填饲量的增加,营养物质表观消化率下降,填鸭体脂沉积量不再增加。     

罗汉果皂苷对肥胖小鼠脂代谢的改善作用研究

【目的】 探讨罗汉果皂苷改善高脂喂养诱发肥胖的小鼠脂代谢异常的作用,并探讨其作用机制。【方法】 选取健康雄性昆明小鼠60只,以高脂饲料喂养4周后,随机分为6组：空白组、模型组、辛伐他汀组,以及罗汉果皂苷高（200 mg/（kg·d））、中（100 mg/（kg·d））、低（50 mg/（kg·d））剂量组,连续灌胃给药4周,同时维持高脂喂养。给药完成后,称量各组小鼠体重及脂肪组织重量,计算脂肪系数;检测小鼠血清和肝脏组织甘油三酯（TG）、总胆固醇（TC）、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-C）及低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）的含量,以及血清载脂蛋白A1（ApoA1）和载脂蛋白B （ApoB）含量,并测定肝脏中脂蛋白脂肪酶（LPL）和肝酯酶（HL）的活性。【结果】 与空白组相比,模型组小鼠体重、脂肪重量及脂肪系数均极显著升高（P<0.01）。与模型组相比,罗汉果皂苷高、中剂量组小鼠的脂肪重量及脂肪系数均显著降低（P<0.05）;高剂量罗汉果皂苷显著或极显著降低了小鼠血清及肝脏TC、LDL-C含量（P<0.05;P<0.01）,极显著升高了血清HDL-C含量（P<0.01）;高、中剂量罗汉果皂苷极显著降低了血清ApoB含量（P<0.01）,极显著或显著升高了小鼠肝脏LPL和HL的活性（P<0.01;P<0.05）。【结论】 罗汉果皂苷能预防高脂饲料诱导的肥胖小鼠血脂、肝脂和体脂的增加,其可能的作用机制是通过影响ApoB的合成及HL、LPL的活性。研究结果为将罗汉果皂苷开发为新的减肥降脂产品提供了依据。     

Observations on an outbreak of nutritional steatitis (yellow fat disease) in fitch (Mustella putorius furo)

An outbreak of nutritional steatitis in farmed fitch (Mustella putorius furo) caused by feeding high levels of dietary polyunsaturated fat was investigated. The disease affected mainly 13 to 15 week rapidly growing kits; 793 kits were affected and 183 died. The outbreak was quickly controlled by lowering the level of polyunsaturated fat in the diet and administering high doses of vitamin E. Affected animals had severe generalised steatitis characterised grossly by yellow brown granular fat, which histologically consisted of diffusely necrotic adipose tissue heavily infiltrated with macrophages and neutrophils. There were extensive deposits of PAS-positive, fluorescent lipopigment within macrophages and extracellularly throughout the inflamed fat. Affected fitch had normochromic microcytic anaemia, lowered liver iron levels, increased thrombocytes and acute inflammatory leucograms. Skeletal or cardiac myopathy was not observed grossly or histologically in any of the animals examined. The diet contained high levels of polyunsaturated fat (7.7%DM), a high proportion being docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acids which were derived from the squid component (40%) of the ration. The livers from affected fitch contained correspondingly high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids. The diet provided 13 mg Vitamin E per fitch daily, which was clearly inadequate considering the high levels of polyunsaturated fat being fed. Liver selenium levels were extremely high as a result of the high selenium levels in the squid portion of the diet.     

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.     

Oxidized dietary fat,alkaline phosphatase concentrations and performance in racing greyhounds

Racing dogs are often fed raw meat. Raw meat may become oxidized because it contains no preservatives but few studies have examined the effect of feeding oxidized food to dogs. This study was originally designed to determine the effect of different concentrations of dietary fat on greyhound performance. After the experiment had been completed, however, it was discovered that the peroxide values (PV) of both diets were elevated indicating that fat oxidation had been present. This study was considered to have value, therefore, because it compared performance and blood parameters in eight trained Greyhounds fed either a high fat moderately oxidized (HFMO) diet (43%ME fat with PV of 44 mEq/kg) or a medium fat highly oxidized (MFHO) diet (31%ME fat with PV of 211 mEq/kg) for 8 weeks per diet in a randomized cross‐over design. Dogs were raced over 500 m twice weekly. Race times over the last 4 weeks of each diet period and blood parameters before racing during the last week of each diet period were compared. Dogs fed the MFHO food ran 0.04 m/s slower (p = 0.06) and serum alkaline phosphatase concentrations were higher (149 vs. 56 U/L; p < 0.0001) than in dogs fed the HFMO diet. Further evaluation is needed to determine whether lower dietary fat or increased oxidation was responsible for the altered performance but oxidation of the food should be considered as one possible explanation for an increase in serum alkaline phosphatase during a diet trial.     

Effect of protein level and flushing method on the reproductive performance of rabbits

Fifty‐five New Zealand white × California cross‐bred female rabbits were used to study the effect of protein level and flushing method on the reproductive performance of rabbits. The treatments consisted of three protein diets (18, 20 and 24% crude protein (CP)) and three flushing methods in a 3 × 3 factorial design. The flushing methods consisted of (i) flushing multiparous does and feeding a 16% CP diet during pregnancy; (ii) flushing multiparous does and feeding an 18% CP diet during pregnancy; and (iii) flushing nulliparous does and feeding an 18% CP diet during pregnancy. Flushing rabbits with different levels of protein did not significantly affect gestation length, litter size and mortality of kits. The trend showed an increase in litter weight with the increase in protein level from 18 to 24%. However, kits from does flushed with 24% CP had a higher individual kit weight gain than those on 20 and 18% CP. Gestation length, total litter size at birth, number of kits dead at birth and number of kits dead at 21 days post‐partum were not affected by flushing methods. There was, however, a significant effect of the flushing method on the number of kits alive at birth, and 7, 14 and 21 days post‐partum. Nulliparous does flushed and maintained on 18% CP during pregnancy had a significantly higher number of kits alive at birth, and 7, 14 and 21 days post‐partum. Litter weight was significantly higher for nulliparous does at 7, 14 and 21 days compared with that of multiparous does flushed and placed on a 16 or 18% CP diet during pregnancy. Protein intake during pregnancy had a significant effect on litter birthweight. Nulliparous and multiparous does flushed and placed on an 18% CP diet during pregnancy had a significantly higher litter birthweight than multiparous does flushed and placed on a 16% CP diet during pregnancy. The effect of protein level during pregnancy on the number of kits alive at birth was not significant. There was no interaction between protein level and flushing method on the reproductive performance of rabbits.     

Effect of ovariectomy and ad libitum feeding on body composition, thyroid status, ghrelin and leptin plasma concentrations in female dogs

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of ovariectomy (i) and ad libitum feeding (ii) on energy intake, body weight (BW), body composition, thyroid status, leptin and ghrelin plasma concentrations. Four young adult female Beagle dogs were fed a maintenance diet for 6 weeks prior to ovariectomy, then 6 months after. Food allowance was adjusted in order to maintain optimal BW. Then, a diet slightly higher in energy concentration was fed ad libitum for 4 months. The maintenance diet was then fed ad libitum for one additional month. The maintenance of optimal BW after ovariectomy required a significant decrease in energy allowance. No increase in fat mass was observed. Ghrelin concentration remained unchanged. During the first month of ad libitum feeding, plasma ghrelin concentration and energy intake increased, then they decreased. Mean BW, plasma leptin, thyrotropin (TSH), total triiodothyronine (TT3) and total thyroxine (TT4) concentrations significantly increased over the study. The BW increase was exclusively due to an increase in body fat. In conclusion, energy allowance should be strictly controlled in spayed female dogs. The results suggest that in dogs, thyroid hormones, leptin and ghrelin concentrations change in response to a positive energy balance in an attempt to limit weight gain. However, the significant weight gain shows that this goal was not achieved.     

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.     

The progressive effects of a high‐fat diet on erythrocyte osmotic fragility,growth performance and serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels in Guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) and Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata)

To investigate the progressive effects of a high‐fat diet on erythrocyte osmotic fragility, growth performance and serum lipid concentrations in Guinea fowl and Muscovy ducks, 36 Guinea fowl and 36 Muscovy ducks were divided into two groups, for each species, and fed either a standard (STD = commercial poultry feed) or high‐fat diet (HFD = commercial poultry feed with 20% palm oil and 2% lard) for up to 12 weeks. After 4, 8 and 12 weeks on the diets, six birds from each group were euthanized and blood samples collected. Osmotic fragility was assessed by measuring the haemoglobin released by erythrocytes placed in serially diluted solutions of phosphate‐buffered saline, spectrophotometrically. Serum triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations were also determined. Fragiligrams from erythrocytes from both species of birds on the HFD were not different to those on the STD. However, Muscovy duck erythrocytes were more resistant to haemolysis compared with Guinea fowl erythrocytes. Final body mass and serum triglyceride levels were not significantly different (p > 0.05, anova ) between the birds in the HFD and STD groups, for both species of birds. In contrast, serum cholesterol levels were significantly higher in birds on the HFD compared with those on the STD, after 4, 8 and 12 weeks of feeding, for both species of birds. Feeding Guinea fowl and Muscovy ducks a high‐fat diet for up to 12 weeks resulted in hypercholesterolaemia but had no effect on final body mass, erythrocyte osmotic fragility or serum triglyceride concentrations in either bird species.