Ketogenic diet as a potential intervention for lipedema.

Lipedema (LI) is a common yet misdiagnosed condition, often misconstrued with obesity. LI affects women almost exclusively, and its painful and life-changing symptoms have long been thought to be resistant to the lifestyle interventions such as diet and exercise. In this paper, we discuss possible mechanisms by which patients adopting a ketogenic diet (KD) can alleviate many of the unwanted clinical features of LI. This paper is also an effort to provide evidence for the hypothesis of the potency of this dietary intervention for addressing the symptoms of LI. Specifically, we examine the scientific evidence of effectiveness of adopting a KD by patients to alleviate clinical features associated with LI, including excessive and disproportionate lower body adipose tissue (AT) deposition, pain, and reduction in quality of life (QoL). We also explore several clinical features of LI currently under debate, including the potential existence and nature of edema, metabolic and hormonal dysfunction, inflammation, and fibrosis. The effectiveness of a KD on addressing clinical features of LI has been demonstrated in human studies, and shows promise as an intervention for LI. We hope this paper leads to an improved understanding of optimal nutritional management for patients with LI and stimulates future research in this area of study.

Activity of castrated male voles: rhythms of responses to testosterone replacement.

Male Microtus montanus are reported to decrease nocturnality in the absence o testosterone (T). Castrated male voles, housed in activity wheels under LD 16:8, received 21 daily injections of either 0, 30, 60, or 120 micrograms T at either 2 hours after lights on midlight, 2 hours before lights off, or middark. Significant increase in both nocturnality and total activity occurred only in response to T administration at midlight and 2 hours before lights off. For increasing nocturnality, animals were more sensitive to T at midlight; for increasing total activity, animal were more sensitive to T2 hours before lights off. Although the rhythms for these responses differed, the most sensitive time for each occurred when plasma T levels were elevated in intact male voles under LD 16:8. Thus, increases in nocturnality and total activity appear to be mediated by separate pathways, each posessing diel rhythmicity.

Hormonal regulation of preputial gland function in male Microtus montanus, the montane vole.

1. Preputial gland function in male Microtus montanus is androgen-dependent, both in terms of preputial weights and in the production of a series of lipids which are present in M. montanus and absent from Microtus pennsylvanicus. 2. Production of these species-typical lipids is decreased but not eliminated in castrates, as well as in adrenalectomized castrates treated with corticosterone. Therefore, in the total absence of androgens, a low level of these lipids is still produced. 3. 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone and 17 beta-estradiol enanthate have limited effects on maintenance of preputial weight, suggesting that testosterone itself is the active steroid in the preputial gland of this species.

Effect of 6-methoxybenzoxazolinone on sex ratio and breeding performance in Microtus montanus.

The plant derivative, 6-mathoxybenzoxazolinone (6-MBOA), which has been demonstrated to initiate reproduction in field populations of the montane meadow vole (Microtus montanus), was administered via feeding or Silastic capsule implants to mated pairs of laboratory bred M. montanus. The animals remained paired for 120 days, and the number, size, and sex ratios of the resulting litters were recorded. Both the size and frequency of litters were significantly greater in 6-MBOA-treated pairs than in controls. By using implants, it was possible to treat one or both sexes in a mated pair. The positive effects of this compound on litter size and number of litters occurred when the females received implants, which indicates that the male has no influence on these parameters. The most unusual result of these experiments was that 6-MBOA has a significant effect on the sex ratio of the litters. Animals receiving 6-MBOA produced significantly more females than did control pairs. This result occurred regardless of the method of administration, and in the case of the implant studies, regardless of which sex received the active implants. These findings are discussed in relation to the ecology and life history strategy of Microtus montanus.

Seasonal variations in activity rhythms of male voles: mediation by gonadal hormones.

Adult male Microtus montanus were castrated or sham-castrated and housed under 16 hours of light (LD 16:8). Castrates showed increased preference for diurnal and decreased preference for nocturnal activity compared to shams. Castrates showed a trend toward increased crepuscular preference. Shams showed more total activity than castrates. Longterm castrates (under LD 8:16) displaying either predominantly diurnal or crepuscular activity were implanted with either empty Silastic capsules or capsules containing testosterone. Animals with testosterone implants displayed increased preference for nocturnal and decreased preference for crepuscular activity as compared to controls. No significant difference in preference for diurnal activity was found. Testosterone increased total activity. Testosterone appears to be an important, but not the only, cue in determining timing of running wheel use in male M. Montanus. Seasonal changes in reproductive function may be involved in the dramatic seasonal variations in activity timing observed in some field populations of microtine rodents. In all treatments, high interanimal variation occurred. This variation may be a function of the inherent flexibility of activity in microtine rodents.

Dynamics of 6-methoxybenzoxazolinone in winter wheat : Effects of photoperiod and temperature.

6-Methoxybenzoxazolinone (6-MBOA), a compound derivable from some freshly growing plants, is known to stimulate reproduction in some mammals and birds. Winter wheat was studied under controlled laboratory conditions to determine the effects of photoperiod and temperature on derivable 6-MBOA content. Longer photoperiods decrease the amount of derivable 6-MBOA per gram of fresh material in 4-day-old wheat seedlings. Higher temperatures also decrease the amount of derivable 6-MBOA in 4-day-old wheat. 6-MBOA content decreases as the plant ages. Comparisons of only the first centimeter above the seed produced the same age-related result. 6-MBOA is concentrated in the meristematic region with decreasing amounts found in higher portions of the plant. Roots from 9-day-old plants contain 6-MBOA. Unsprouted wheat seeds contain negligible amounts of 6-MBOA. These results demonstrate that environmental variables have a significant effect on derivable 6-MBOA levels, but that under all the regimes studied, 6-MBOA is present in freshly sprouted wheat.

Diel plasma testosterone rhythms in male Microtus montanus, the montane vole, under long and short photoperiods.

Diel plasma testosterone rhythms were examined in adult male Microtus montanus, a seasonal breeder which displays nocturnal locomotor activity under long photoperiod and diurnal activity under short photoperiod. Under 16 hr light:8 hr dark (16L:8D), plasma testosterone levels peak during the light at 11.8 ng/ml. Under 8L:16D, plasma testosterone peaks during the dark at 5 ng/ml.