Dietary intervention improves health metrics and life expectancy of the genetically obese Titan mouse.

Suitable animal models are essential for translational research, especially in the case of complex, multifactorial conditions, such as obesity. The non-inbred mouse (Mus musculus) line Titan, also known as DU6, is one of the world's longest selection experiments for high body mass and was previously described as a model for metabolic healthy (benign) obesity. The present study further characterizes the geno- and phenotypes of this non-inbred mouse line and tests its suitability as an interventional obesity model.

The Brain Epigenome Goes Drunk: Alcohol Consumption Alters Histone Acetylation and Transcriptome.

Recent studies demonstrated that alcohol consumption can induce epigenetic changes in the brain, although the exact mechanism underlying such changes remained unclear. Now, a report by Mews et al. shows a direct link between alcohol consumption and histone acetylation changes in the brain, which are mediated by the neuronal acetyl-CoA synthase, ACSS2.

The role of lipids in aging-related metabolic changes.

Fat is historically associated with poor health and obesity. However, the continuous use of lipidomics and genetic studies in model organisms revealed that specific lipid profiles and signals might delay aging. In order to identify and quantify the lipid species, researchers are taking advantage of the recent developments in the area of lipidomics that is mainly done by mass spectrometry and further techniques, such as NMR spectroscopy and chromatographic separations.

Telomerase Is Essential for Zebrafish Heart Regeneration.

After myocardial infarction in humans, lost cardiomyocytes are replaced by an irreversible fibrotic scar. In contrast, zebrafish hearts efficiently regenerate after injury. Complete regeneration of the zebrafish heart is driven by the strong proliferation response of its cardiomyocytes to injury.

Genetic inactivation of dopamine D1 but not D2 receptors inhibits L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia and histone activation.

Background: Pharmacologic studies have implicated dopamine D1-like receptors in the development of dopamine precursor molecule 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-L-alanine (L-DOPA)-induced dyskinesias and associated molecular changes in hemiparkinsonian mice. However, pharmacologic agents for D1 or D2 receptors also recognize other receptor family members. Genetic inactivation of the dopamine D1 or D2 receptor was used to define the involvement of these receptor subtypes.