Liver steatosis in hypothalamic obese rats improves after duodeno-jejunal bypass by reduction in de novo lipogenesis pathway.

AIMS: Hypothalamic obesity is a severe condition without any effective therapy. Bariatric operations appear as an alternative treatment, but the effects of this procedure are controversial. We, herein, investigated the effects of duodeno-jejunal bypass (DJB) surgery upon the lipid profile and expression of genes and proteins, involved in the regulation of hepatic lipid metabolism, in hypothalamic obese (HyO) rats. METHODS: During the first 5days of life, male newborn Wistar rats received subcutaneous injections of monosodium glutamate [4g/kg body weight, HyO group] or saline (control, CTL group). At 90days of life, HyO rats were randomly submitted to DJB (HyO DJB) or Sham-operations (HyO Sham group). Six months after DJB, adiposity, hepatic steatosis and lipid metabolism were verified. KEY FINDINGS: HyO Sham rats were obese, hyperinsulinemic, insulin resistant and dyslipidemic. These rats had higher liver contents of trygliceride (TG) and presented disorganization of the hepatocyte structures, in association with higher hepatic contents of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), fatty acid synthase (FASN), and stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 mRNAs and protein. DJB surgery normalized insulinemia, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia in HyO rats. TG content in the liver and the hepatic microscopic structures were also normalized in HyO DJB rats, while the expressions of ACC and FASN proteins were decreased in the liver of these rodents. SIGNIFICANCE: The DJB-induced amelioration in hepatic steatosis manifested as a late effect in HyO rats, and was partly associated with a downregulation in hepatic de novo lipogenesis processes, indicating that DJB protects against liver steatosis in hypothalamic obesity.

Effect of erva-mate (Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hil., Aquifoliaceae) on serum cholesterol, triacylglycerides and glucose in Wistar rats fed a diet supplemented with fat and sugar / Efeito da erva-mate (Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hil., Aquifoliaceae) sobre o colesterol, triacilglicerídeos e glucose em ratos Wistar com dieta alimentar suplementada com lipídeos e glicídeos

Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hil., Aquifoliaceae, is a species native to the subtropical and temperate regions of South America, used in beverages prepared by infusion such as teas, chimarrão and tererê. To investigate the physiological effects of I. paraguariensis on the metabolism of fats and sugars in Wistar rats, following the ingestion of erva-mate tea, four experimental groups were constructed: Lipid Control Group (receiving water and high-fat diet); Lipid Tea Group (extract of I. paraguariensis and high-fat diet); the Sugar Control Group (water and high-sugar diet); and Sugar Tea Group (extract of I. paraguariensis and high-sugar diet). The animals received their particular diet for 60 days, and were weighed weekly. After this period, the plasma concentrations of cholesterol, glucose and triacylglycerides were determined, together with the weight of visceral fat. The data were subjected to statistical analysis with a significance level of p<0.05. The results show that the ingestion of erva-mate affected body weight, visceral fat and plasma glucose, cholesterol and triacylglyceride levels.

Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hil., Aquifoliaceae, é uma espécie nativa das regiões subtropicais e temperadas da América do Sul, usada em bebidas por infusão como chá, chimarrão e tererê. Para verificar os efeitos fisiológicos que a I. paraguariensis pode causar sobre o metabolismo de lipídeos e glicídeos em ratos Wistar, após a ingestão de chá de erva-mate, analisou-se quatro grupos experimentais: Grupo Lipídeo Controle (receberam água e dieta hiperlipídica); Grupo Lipídeo Ingestão (extrato de I. paraguariensis e dieta hiperlipídica); Grupo Glicídeo Controle (receberam água e dieta hiperglicídica); e Grupo Glicídeo Ingestão (extrato de I. paraguariensis e dieta hiperglicídica). Os animais receberam a dieta por 60 dias, de acordo com o grupo que pertenciam, sendo pesados semanalmente. Após esse período, foram avaliadas as concentrações de colesterol, glicose e triacilglicerídeos sanguíneos, e ainda, peso da gordura visceral. Os dados foram analisados estatísticamente. O nível de significância aceito foi p<0,05. Os resultados mostraram que a ingestão de erva-mate atua sobre o peso corpóreo, gordura visceral e taxas de glucose, colesterol e triacilglicerídeos plasmáticos.