Serial changes in norepinephrine kinetics associated with feeding dogs a high-fat diet.

The role of increased sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity in the pathogenesis of obesity hypertension and insulin resistance is controversial. Eight dogs were instrumented and fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 6 weeks. Dogs were evaluated for changes in weight, blood pressure, insulin resistance, and norepinephrine (NE) kinetics using a two-compartment model. The HFD resulted in weight gain, hypertension, and insulin resistance. During the 6 weeks of the HFD, although plasma NE concentration trended toward increasing (P=.09), SNS, assessed by NE kinetic studies, significantly increased (P=.009). Within 1 week of starting the HFD, NE release into the extravascular compartment (NE(2)) increased from 3.44+/-0.59 microg/mL to 4.87+/-0.80 microg/mL (P<.01) and this increase was maintained over the next 5 weeks of the HFD (NE(2) at week 6 was 4.66+/-0.97 microg/mL). In addition to the increased NE(2) there was also a significant increase in NE clearance (P=.04). There were significant correlations between the increase in NE(2) and both the development of insulin resistance and hypertension. This study supports the hypothesis that activation of the SNS plays a pivotal role in the metabolic and hemodynamic changes that occur with weight gain induced by HFD.

Hypertension and insulin resistance are not directly related in obese dogs.

In dogs fed a high-fat diet, we determined whether there was a direct relation between obesity-induced insulin resistance and obesity-induced hypertension. Thirty-six adult mongrel dogs were chronically instrumented and assigned to receive either a high-fat diet alone (n=7) or a high-fat diet combined with a low-sodium diet plus furosemide (n=6), prazosin plus atenolol (n=7), clonidine (n=10), or aspirin (n=6). Blood pressure, heart rate, and body weight were measured daily. Insulin resistance was assessed with a single-dose euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp (2 mU x kg(-1) x min(-1)) before and after 1, 3, and 6 weeks of the high-fat diet. The low-salt diet plus furosemide, prazosin plus atenolol, and clonidine treatments prevented the hypertension associated with feeding the dogs a high-fat diet. Only clonidine treatment totally prevented the development of insulin resistance, and high-dose aspirin, known to prevent insulin resistance by inhibition of the activity of IkappaB kinase-beta, decreased the degree of insulin resistance by almost 70%. However, aspirin had no effect on the development of hypertension. We conclude that obesity-induced hypertension and obesity-induced insulin resistance are not directly related. In addition, there is a suggestion that insulin resistance in this experimental model is mediated through the central and or peripheral alpha2-adrenoceptors, whereas hypertension is mediated through the alpha1- and or beta-adrenoceptors.