Therapeutic or lifelong training effects on pancreatic morphological and functional parameters in an animal model of aging and obesity.

AIMS: Obesity, aging, and physical training are factors influencing pancreatic functional and morphological parameters. Aiming to clarify the impact of the interaction of these factors, we analyzed the effect of therapeutic or lifelong physical training on body adiposity and pancreatic functional and morphological parameters of aged and obese rats. METHODS: 24 male Wistar rats were (initial age = 4 months and final age = 14 months) randomly divided into three aged and obese experimental groups (n = 8/group): untrained, therapeutic trained, and lifelong trained. Body adiposity, plasmatic concentration and pancreatic immunostaining of insulin, markers of tissue inflammation, lipid peroxidation, activity and immunostaining of antioxidant enzymes, and parameters of pancreatic morphology were evaluated. RESULTS: Lifelong physical training improved the body adiposity, plasmatic insulin concentration, and macrophage immunostaining in the pancreas. The animals submitted to therapeutic and lifelong training showed an increase in the density of the pancreatic islets; lower insulin, Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NF-κB), and Transforming Growth Factor beta (TGF-ß) immunostaining in the pancreatic parenchyma, as well as lower pancreatic tissue lipid peroxidation, lower fibrosis area, increased catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity and increased heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) immunostaining, with the greatest effect in the lifelong training group. CONCLUSION: Lifelong training promoted greater beneficial effects on the pancreatic functional and morphological parameters of aged and obese animals compared to therapeutic exercise.

Metformin Improves Autonomic Nervous System Imbalance and Metabolic Dysfunction in Monosodium L-Glutamate-Treated Rats.

Metformin is an antidiabetic drug used for the treatment of diabetes and metabolic diseases. Imbalance in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) is associated with metabolic diseases. This study aimed to test whether metformin could improve ANS function in obese rats. Obesity was induced by neonatal treatment with monosodium L-glutamate (MSG). During 21-100 days of age, MSG-rats were treated with metformin 250 mg/kg body weight/day or saline solution. Rats were euthanized to evaluate biometric and biochemical parameters. ANS electrical activity was recorded and analyzed. Metformin normalized the hypervagal response in MSG-rats. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in isolated pancreatic islets increased in MSG-rats, while the cholinergic response decreased. Metformin treatment normalized the cholinergic response, which involved mostly the M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (M3 mAChR) in pancreatic beta-cells. Protein expression of M3 mAChRs increased in MSG-obesity rats, while metformin treatment decreased the protein expression by 25%. In conclusion, chronic metformin treatment was effective in normalizing ANS activity and alleviating obesity in MSG-rats.

Temporal Measures in Cardiac Structure and Function During the Development of Obesity Induced by Different Types of Western Diet in a Rat Model.

Obesity is recognized worldwide as a complex metabolic disorder that has reached epidemic proportions and is often associated with a high incidence of cardiovascular diseases. To study this pathology and evaluate cardiac function, several models of diet-induced obesity (DIO) have been developed. The Western diet (WD) is one of the most widely used models; however, variations in diet composition and time period of the experimental protocol make comparisons challenging. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of two different types of Western diet on cardiac remodeling in obese rats with sequential analyses during a long-term follow-up. Male Wistar rats were distributed into three groups fed with control diet (CD), Western diet fat (WDF), and Western diet sugar (WDS) for 41 weeks. The animal nutritional profile and cardiac histology were assessed at the 41st week. Cardiac structure and function were evaluated by echocardiogram at four different moments: 17, 25, 33, and 41 weeks. A noninvasive method was performed to assess systolic blood pressure at the 33rd and 41st week. The animals fed with WD (WDF and WDS) developed pronounced obesity with an average increase of 86.5% in adiposity index at the end of the experiment. WDF and WDS groups also presented hypertension. The echocardiographic data showed no structural differences among the three groups, but WDF animals presented decreased endocardial fractional shortening and ejection fraction at the 33rd and 41st week, suggesting altered systolic function. Moreover, WDF and WFS animals did not present hypertrophy and interstitial collagen accumulation in the left ventricle. In conclusion, both WD were effective in triggering severe obesity in rats; however, only the WDF induced mild cardiac dysfunction after long-term diet exposure. Further studies are needed to search for an appropriate DIO model with relevant cardiac remodeling.

Efectos del consumo de aceite de pescado sobre indicadores de síndrome metabólico en ratas obesas IIMb/Beta / Effects of fish oil consumption on metabolic syndrome parameters in obese IIMb / Beta rats

Existe consenso científico acerca de la necesidad de cambiar hábitos de alimentación y aumentar la actividad física como estrategias para prevenir y paliar la epidemia de sobrepeso y obesidad. En este estudio se evaluaron los efectos de dietas isocalóricas e isolipídicas, con diferente calidad de lípidos, sobre algunos indicadores de síndrome metabólico en ratas de la línea IIMb/Beta de 70 días de edad. Este modelo murino manifiesta obesidad acompañada de hipertriacilglicerolemia y resistencia insulínica desde la pubertad y desarrolla diabetes tipo 2 en la adultez. Se suministraron durante 90 días tres dietas formuladas según AIN-93 (American Institute of Nutrition-93) ad libitum: Dieta AIN con aceite de girasol como fuente de lípidos; Dieta JB con grasa bovina (remplazando al aceite de girasol) y Dieta JBn-3 con grasa bovina más ácidos grasos poliinsaturados n-3 provenientes de aceite de pescado. Los animales que consumieron la dieta JBn-3 manifestaron disminución (p<0,05) en algunos indicadores de sindrome metabólico como la hiperinsulinemia, la hipertriacilglicerolemia y el depósito de lípidos totales, colesterol y triacilgliceroles hepáticos. Si bien se requieren más estudios, se confirma la validez de las intervenciones dietarias para el abordaje de la obesidad y sus comorbilidades recomendadas por los organismos internacionales(AU)

There is scientific consensus about the importance of changing dietary habits and increasing physical activity for the prevention and treatment of obesity and its co-morbidities. The effects of isocaloric and isolipidic diets with different type of fat on symptoms of the metabolic syndrome in 70 days old IIMb/Beta rats were evaluated. This murine model develops obesity, hypetryacilglycerolemia and insulin resistance since puberty, progressing to type 2 diabetes in adulthood. Three diets formulated according to AIN-93 (American Institute of Nutrition-93) were offered ad libitum during 90 days: Diet AIN with sunflower oil; Diet JB with bovine fat (replacing sunflower oil) and Diet JBn-3 with bovine fat and PUFAn-3 from fish oil. The group fed JBn-3 diet showed diminution (p<0,05) on several of the clinical manifestations of the metabolic syndrome, such as: hyperinsulinemia, hypertriacylglycerolemia and hepatic total lipids, cholesterol and triacylglycerols. Although more research is required, the study supports the beneficial effects of dietary approaches on obesity and its comorbidities(AU)

Efectos del consumo elevado de fructosa y sacarosa sobre parámetros metabólicos en ratas obesas y diabéticas / Effects of a high fructose and sucrose intake on metabolic parameters in obese diabetic rats

The relationship between a high consumption of fructose-sweetened foods and obesity and its co-morbidities remains controversial. In this study the effects of three isocaloric and isolipidic diets containing different carbohydrates - fructose, sucrose and starch (AIN 93) - on biomass, abdominal fat depots, blood and liver lipid profile and hepatic histopathology in adult male IIMb/obese and diabetic rats were evaluated. Plasma cholesterol and triacylglycerol were significantly higher in fructose and sucrose groups, while liver lipids showed higher levels in the starch-fed group. There were no differences in hepatic histology in the three groups. The findings of this study support the hypothesis that sugar-rich diets -with fructose or sucrose - replacing starch in equivalent amounts produce similar effects in plasma glucose-lipid profile.

La controversia acerca de si el alto consumo de fructosa ha sido determinante en la prevalencia actual de la obesidad y sus comorbilidades, o si sus efectos son semejantes a los de un consumo equivalente de otros azúcares continúa vigente. En este trabajo se evaluaron los efectos de tres dietas isocalóricas e isolipídicas con fructosa, sacarosa o almidón -como control-, sobre la biomasa, el depósito adiposo abdominal, el perfil glucolipídico sanguíneo y los lípidos y la histología hepáticos en ratas adultas IIMb/β, obesas y diabéticas. Los valores de colesterol y triacilgliceroles plasmáticos fueron mayores en los grupos alimentados con fructosa y sacarosa, mientras que los lípidos hepáticos resultaron mayores en el grupo que consumió almidón. La histología hepática mostró leve esteatosis micro-macro vacuolar en los tres grupos. Los efectos de fructosa y sacarosa sobre las variables evaluadas no fueron diferentes.

Milk improved the metabolic syndrome in obese ß rats.

The response of adult spontaneously obese rats from the IIMb/Beta strain fed a high calcium skimmed milk diet (MHCa), high calcium from carbonate (HCa) and a normal AIN 93 diet during 45 days was evaluated. Body weight, food intake and fecal fat excretion were measured. At the end of the experiment rats were euthanized, abdominal fat pads and livers were excised and weighed. Blood and liver triacylglycerols, total cholesterol and fractions were quantified. Body weight increase and abdominal fat pads in the MHCa group were significantly lower than in the other two. Plasma triacylglycerols, total and LDL-cholesterol were diminished in the MHCa group. Fecal lipid excretion was increased in the adult MHCa group. Total liver lipids and triacylglycerols showed a significant diminution in the MHCa group. These results suggest that calcium and other bioactive compounds from milk, most probably present in whey fraction, and not calcium carbonate exerted an "anti-obesity" effect on these rats.

Milk improved the metabolic syndrome in obese ß rats / La leche mejoró el síndrome metabólico en ratas obesas ß

The response of adult spontaneously obese rats from the IIMb/Beta strain fed a high calcium skimmed milk diet (MHCa), high calcium from carbonate (HCa) and a normal AIN 93 diet during 45 days was evaluated. Body weight, food intake and fecal fat excretion were measured. At the end of the experiment rats were euthanized, abdominal fat pads and livers were excised and weighed. Blood and liver triacylglycerols, total cholesterol and fractions were quantified. Body weight increase and abdominal fat pads in the MHCa group were significantly lower than in the other two. Plasma triacylglycerols, total and LDL-cholesterol were diminished in the MHCa group. Fecal lipid excretion was increased in the adult MHCa group. Total liver lipids and triacylglycerols showed a significant diminution in the MHCa group. These results suggest that calcium and other bioactive compounds from milk, most probably present in whey fraction, and not calcium carbonate exerted an "anti-obesity" effect on these rats.

Se evaluaron los efectos de dietas con distintos niveles y fuente de calcio sobre parámetros relacionados con el síndrome metabólico en ratas adultas espontáneamente obesas de la línea IIMb/Beta. Se suministraron durante 45 días tres dietas: alto nivel de calcio proveniente de leche descremada (MHCa); alto calcio proveniente de carbonato (HCa) y como referencia AIN 93, normocálcica. Se midieron peso corporal, ingesta de alimento y excreción fecal de grasa. Los animales se sacrificaron y se extrajeron y pesaron los panículos adiposos abdominales y el hígado. Se determinaron triacilgliceroles, colesterol total y fracciones en plasma y en hígado. El aumento de peso corporal, los panículos adiposos abdominales y los valores plasmáticos de triacilgliceroles y de colesterol y fracciones fueron significativamente menores en el grupo MHCa. La excreción fecal de grasa resultó aumentada en el grupo MHCa. Los lípidos totales y los triacilgliceroles hepáticos mostraron una disminución significativa en el grupo MHCa. Los resultados evidencian efectos beneficiosos del calcio de la leche y no del suplemento mineral, sugiriendo que una acción sinérgica con otros compuestos bioactivos, probablemente presentes en el suero de la leche, produciría los efectos "antiobesidad" en estas ratas.

Milk improved the metabolic syndrome in obese ß rats / La leche mejoró el síndrome metabólico en ratas obesas ß

The response of adult spontaneously obese rats from the IIMb/Beta strain fed a high calcium skimmed milk diet (MHCa), high calcium from carbonate (HCa) and a normal AIN 93 diet during 45 days was evaluated. Body weight, food intake and fecal fat excretion were measured. At the end of the experiment rats were euthanized, abdominal fat pads and livers were excised and weighed. Blood and liver triacylglycerols, total cholesterol and fractions were quantified. Body weight increase and abdominal fat pads in the MHCa group were significantly lower than in the other two. Plasma triacylglycerols, total and LDL-cholesterol were diminished in the MHCa group. Fecal lipid excretion was increased in the adult MHCa group. Total liver lipids and triacylglycerols showed a significant diminution in the MHCa group. These results suggest that calcium and other bioactive compounds from milk, most probably present in whey fraction, and not calcium carbonate exerted an "anti-obesity" effect on these rats.(AU)

Se evaluaron los efectos de dietas con distintos niveles y fuente de calcio sobre parámetros relacionados con el síndrome metabólico en ratas adultas espontáneamente obesas de la línea IIMb/Beta. Se suministraron durante 45 días tres dietas: alto nivel de calcio proveniente de leche descremada (MHCa); alto calcio proveniente de carbonato (HCa) y como referencia AIN 93, normocálcica. Se midieron peso corporal, ingesta de alimento y excreción fecal de grasa. Los animales se sacrificaron y se extrajeron y pesaron los panículos adiposos abdominales y el hígado. Se determinaron triacilgliceroles, colesterol total y fracciones en plasma y en hígado. El aumento de peso corporal, los panículos adiposos abdominales y los valores plasmáticos de triacilgliceroles y de colesterol y fracciones fueron significativamente menores en el grupo MHCa. La excreción fecal de grasa resultó aumentada en el grupo MHCa. Los lípidos totales y los triacilgliceroles hepáticos mostraron una disminución significativa en el grupo MHCa. Los resultados evidencian efectos beneficiosos del calcio de la leche y no del suplemento mineral, sugiriendo que una acción sinérgica con otros compuestos bioactivos, probablemente presentes en el suero de la leche, produciría los efectos "antiobesidad" en estas ratas.(AU)