ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the role of dehydroepiandrosterone ( DHEA) in fatty acid metabolism in the liver of obese rats induced by high fat diet. Methods Twenty-seven SD rats were divided into control group, high-fat diet group ( HF group ) , and high-fat diet combined with DHEA treatment group ( DHEA group ) . The serum glucose and insulin levels were determined, while the free fatty acids ( FFA ) level was measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The mRNA expressions of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), lipoprotein lipase ( LPL ) , acetyl-CoA carboxylase ( ACC ) , fatty acid synthase ( FAS ) , carnitine acyl-CoA transferase (CPT), and stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 ( SCD1) were measured by real-time PCR. Finally, oil red O staining was also used to observe the changes in hepatic lipid deposition. Results ( 1) The content of hepatic FFA in HF group was significantly higher than that in control group ( P<0.05) , but decreased in DHEA group compared with that in HF group (P<0.05). (2) Compared with HF group, the mRNA expressions of HSL, LPL, ACC, FAS in DHEA group were significantly lower while the mRNA expressions of CPT1, CPT2, and SCD1 were significantly higher ( all P<0.05). (3) Oil-red O staining showed that the liver lipid content in high fat diet-fed rats were significantly increased compared with that in the chow diet group( P<0.05) , but there was no difference between HF and DHEA groups. However, the structural damage of HF group was more evident compared with DHEA group. Conclusion DHEA may reduce the content of hepatic FFA in high-fat diet-induced obese rats via inhibiting the production of FFA and promoting theβ-oxidation of FFA.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate serum lipid profiles in newly diagnosed patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) using lipidomics and correlate these features with hyperinsulinemia and hyperandrogenism associated with PCOS and obesity. Methods 32 newly-diagnosed PCOS women and 34 controls were enrolled and divided into obese and lean subgroups according to the body mass index (BMI). Anthropometric, biochemical, and hormonal parameters were collected. Serum lipid profiles including phospholipids, free fatty acids (FFAs), and bioactive lipids were analyzed using GC-MS and LC-MS. Results PCOS patients, in particular, the obese ones with fatty liver, have abnormal phosphatidylcholine (PC)/lysophospholipid (LPC) metabolism. PC was increased (16∶0, 18∶0, 18∶1, 18∶2, and 20∶4), while LPC was decreased (16∶0, 18∶0, and 18∶1; all P<0.05). Serum polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), were decreased significantly, and the long chain saturated fatty acid was increased. We also found that insulin stimulated the metabolism of PUFAs, but the androgen inhibits the metabolism of PUFAs by measuring their metabolites. Conclusion PCOS patients have metabolic disorders of phospholipids and PUFAs. Insulin stimulated while androgen inhibited PUFAs metabolism.