Genetic deletion of Mas receptor in FVB/N mice impairs cardiac use of glucose and lipids.

Angiotensin-(1-7) is a biologically active product of the renin-angiotensin system cascade and exerts inhibitory effects on inflammation, vascular and cellular growth mechanisms signaling through the G protein-coupled Mas receptor. The major purpose of the present study was to investigate the use of glucose and fatty acids by cardiac tissue in Mas knockout mice models. Serum levels of glucose, lipids, and insulin were measured in Mas-deficient and wild-type FVB/N mice.

Aerobic training induces differential expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism in skeletal muscle and white adipose tissues.

Aerobic training induces adaptive responses in skeletal muscles and white adipose tissues, thus facilitating lipid utilization as energy substrates during a physical exercise session. However, the effects of training on cytokines levels and on transcription factors involved in lipid metabolism in muscle and different white adipose depots are still unclear; therefore, these were the aims of the present study. Nineteen adult male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to a trained group or a control, non-trained group.

Increase in liver cytosolic lipases activities and VLDL-TAG secretion rate do not prevent the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in cafeteria diet-fed rats.

We have previously shown that the cafeteria diet increases body fat mass, plasma triacylglycerol (TAG) and insulin levels, glucose uptake by white and brown adipose tissues, as well as the sympathetic activity to both adipose tissues in Wistar rats. The metabolic pathways responsible for the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were examined in cafeteria diet-fed rats. After 3 weeks offering cafeteria diet, we evaluated: (i) activity of the sympathetic nervous system by norepinephrine turnover rates; (ii) de novo fatty acid synthesis in vivo using HO; (iii) secretion of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL)-TAG secretion measuring serum TAG levels after administration of lipase lipoprotein inhibitor, (iv) liver cytosolic lipases activities and (v) liver mRNA expression of enzymes involved in lipids secretion and oxidation by RT-PCR.

Replacement of soybean oil by fish oil increases cytosolic lipases activities in liver and adipose tissue from rats fed a high-carbohydrate diets.

Several studies have demonstrated that fish oil consumption improves metabolic syndrome and comorbidities, as insulin resistance, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, dyslipidaemia and hypertension induced by high-fat diet ingestion. Previously, we demonstrated that administration of a fructose-rich diet to rats induces liver lipid accumulation, accompanied by a decrease in liver cytosolic lipases activities. In this study, the effect of replacement of soybean oil by fish oil in a high-fructose diet (FRUC, 60% fructose) for 8 weeks on lipid metabolism in liver and epididymal adipose tissue from rats was investigated.

Long-term effects of angiotensin-(1-7) on lipid metabolism in the adipose tissue and liver.

The angiotensin (Ang) converting enzyme 2/Ang-(1-7)/Mas axis has been described to have a beneficial role on metabolic disorders. In the present study, the use of a transgenic rat model that chronically overexpresses Ang-(1-7) enabled us to investigate the chronic effects of this peptide on lipid accumulation in the liver and adipose tissue. The transgenic group showed a marked tendency toward increased expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) and decreased lipoprotein lipase (LPL) expression and activity in epididymal adipose tissue.

Differential modulation of cytosolic lipases activities in liver and adipose tissue by high-carbohydrate diets.

Several studies have demonstrated that a high-fructose (FRUC) diet induces metabolic and haemodynamic abnormalities, known as the metabolic syndrome, which are characterised by obesity, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia and hypertension. In this study, the effect of a FRUC diet (60 % fructose) for 8 weeks on the metabolism of lipids in liver and epididymal adipose tissue from Wistar rats was compared with the AIN-93M diet and the effects of the AIN-93M diet were compared with a chow diet. The FRUC diet induced marked increases in both hepatocyte lipid droplet volume and postprandial serum levels of triacylglycerol (TAG), but reduced the postprandial serum levels of insulin.

Hancornia speciosa Gomes (Apocynaceae) as a potential anti-diabetic drug.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The leaves of Hancornia speciosa Gomes are traditionally used to treat diabetes in Brazil. The aim of the study is to evaluate the potential anti-diabetic effect of Hancornia speciosa extract and derived fractions.

Materials And Methods: The ethanolic extract from Hancornia speciosa leaves and chromatographic fractions thereof were evaluated on α-glucosidase assay, on hyperglycemic effect and glucose uptake.

Distinct metabolic pathways trigger adipocyte fat accumulation induced by high-carbohydrate and high-fat diets.

Objective: Several metabolic pathways may be associated with obesity development and may be differentially modulated by dietary constituents. The aim of this study was to access the adipocyte metabolic pathways that lead to lipid accumulation in fat cells of mice fed a high-carbohydrate or high-fat diet.

Methods: Male Swiss mice ages 7 to 8 wk were fed a standard laboratory rodent diet-chow diet, a high-carbohydrate (HC) diet, or a high-fat (HF) diet for 8 wk.

Evaluation of calcium supplementation with algae (Lithothamnion muelleri) on metabolic and inflammatory parameters in mice fed a high refined carbohydrate-containing diet.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential of calcium supplementation from Lithothamnium muelleri algae on metabolic and inflammatory parameters in mice with increased adiposity. Male mice were fed and divided during 8 weeks in: control (C), a high refined carbohydrate-containing diet (HC), HC diet supplemented with 1% of Lithothamnion muelleri algae (HC + A) and HC diet supplemented with 0.9% calcium carbonate (HC + C).

Increased expression of oxidative enzymes in adipose tissue following PPARα-activation.

Objective: Evaluate the effect of fenofibrate treatment on the expression of PPARα and oxidative enzymes in adipose tissue.

Materials/methods: Wistar male rats were fed a balanced diet supplemented with 100mg.Kg-1 bw.

Lack of platelet-activating factor receptor protects mice against diet-induced adipose inflammation and insulin-resistance despite fat pad expansion.

Objective: The role of platelet-activating factor (PAF) on diet-induced inflammatory and metabolic dysfunction is unknown. The effects of diet-induced metabolic and inflammatory dysfunction in mice with deletion of the PAF receptor (PAFR(-/-) ) were evaluated in this study.

Methods: Wild-type and PAFR(-/-) mice were fed chow (WT-C and PAFR(-/-) -C) or high-refined carbohydrate-containing diet (WT-HC and PAFR(-/-) -HC).

Association of an oral formulation of angiotensin-(1-7) with atenolol improves lipid metabolism in hypertensive rats.

The β-adrenergic blockers and antagonists of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) are among the drugs that present better results in the control of cardio-metabolic diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the association of the β-blocker, atenolol, and an oral formulation of Ang-(1-7) on lipid metabolism in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The main results showed that SHR treated with oral formulation of Ang-(1-7) in combination to atenolol have an improvement of lipid metabolism with a reduction of total plasma cholesterol, improvement of oral fat load tolerance and an increase in the lipolytic response stimulated by the β-adrenergic agonist, isoproterenol, without modification of resting glucose or insulin sensitivity in adipocytes.

Estrogen therapy attenuates adiposity markers in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Ovarian hormones modulate the metabolism of adipose cells and present a protective effect against hypertension. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of estradiol on adiposity markers in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Ovariectomized spontaneously hypertensive rats treated with estradiol (5 μg/100 g/day), three weeks after ovariectomy, presented decreased blood pressure and insulin levels and increased hepatic glycogen content.

Improvement of the energy supply and contractile function in normal and ischemic rat hearts by dietary orotic acid.

Aims: As cardiac performance is closely related to its energy supply, our study investigated the effect of the orotic acid cardioprotective agent on the pathways of energy supply, in both conditions of normal flow and ischemia.

Main Methods: Male Wistar rats were fed during nine days with a balanced diet only or supplemented with 1% orotic acid.

Key Findings: Dietary administration of orotic acid increased the cardiac utilization of fatty acids, activity of the lipoprotein lipase, expression of the gene of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α and its target enzymes.

Angiotensin-(1-7) Mas-receptor deficiency decreases peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma expression in adipocytes.

The renin-angiotensin system is an important link between metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases. Besides angiotensin II, other angiotensin peptides such as angiotensin-(1-7), have important biological activities. It has been demonstrated that angiotensin-(1-7), acting through the G protein-coupled receptor encoded by the Mas protooncogene have important actions on the cardiovascular system.

Carbohydrate-enriched diet impairs cardiac performance by decreasing the utilization of fatty acid and glucose.

Aims: We hypothesized that a high-carbohydrate diet affects the cardiac performance by interfering in the metabolic steps involved in energy transfer in this organ. To verify this, we investigated the myocardial utilization of different substrates and contractile function in rats fed a high-carbohydrate diet, under normal flow and ischemia.

Methods: and

Results: Male Wistar rats were fed over 9 days with standard (39.

High-carbohydrate diet selectively induces tumor necrosis factor-α production in mice liver.

Obesity may represent a state of chronic low-grade inflammation associated with infiltration of adipose tissue by inflammatory cells. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1/JE), two important inflammatory cytokines, have been shown to be regulated according to changes in body adiposity. In this study on Swiss mice, we compared the influences of long-term high-carbohydrate (HC) or high-fat (HF) diet on adiposity, glucose tolerance, and secretion of TNF-α and MCP-1/JE by adipose tissue and liver.

Improved lipid and glucose metabolism in transgenic rats with increased circulating angiotensin-(1-7).

Objective: Obesity and diabetes remain among the world's most pervasive health problems. Although the importance of angiotensin II for metabolic regulation is well documented, the role of the angiotensin-(1-7)/Mas axis in this process is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of increased angiotensin-(1-7) plasma levels in lipid and glucose metabolism using transgenic rats that express an angiotensin-(1-7)-releasing fusion protein, TGR(A1-7)3292 (TGR).

Fenofibrate prevents orotic acid--induced hepatic steatosis in rats.

The experiments performed in this report were designed to investigate the mechanisms involved in the metabolic alterations associated with orotic acid-induced hepatic steatosis and the effect of fenofibrate, a stimulant of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha), on these alterations. Male Wistar rats were divided into three experimental groups: 1) fed a balanced diet (C); 2) fed a balanced diet supplemented with 1% orotic acid (OA); 3) fed OA diet containing 100 mg.kg(-1) bw.

Mas deficiency in FVB/N mice produces marked changes in lipid and glycemic metabolism.

Objective: Metabolic syndrome is characterized by the variable coexistence of obesity, hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. It is well known that angiotensin (Ang) II is importantly involved in the metabolic syndrome. However, the role of the vasodilator Ang-(1-7)/Mas axis is not known.

Effects of fenofibrate on lipid metabolism in adipose tissue of rats.

The effect of fenofibrate, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha agonist, on body weight gain and on reduction of adipose tissue pads has been ascribed to increased fat catabolism in liver mainly through the induction of target enzymes involved in hepatic lipid metabolism. The aim of this study was to investigate whether peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha activation also affects metabolic pathways in adipose tissue of rats treated with fenofibrate (100 mg/kg body weight) for 9 days. Fenofibrate lowered body weight gain and plasma triglyceride, total cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol but had no influence on food intake and on plasma glucose levels.

Response to intra- and extracellular lipolytic agents and hormone-sensitive lipase translocation are impaired in adipocytes from rats adapted to a high-protein, carbohydrate-free diet.

We showed previously that rats adapted to a high-protein (70%), carbohydrate-free (HP) diet have reduced lipolytic activity. To clarify the underlying biochemical mechanisms, several metabolic processes involved in adipose tissue lipolysis were investigated. The experiments were performed in rats adapted for 15 d to an HP or a balanced diet.

Acute metabolic effects of thiopental anesthesia on fed and fasted rats chronically treated with bromocriptine.

We investigated the acute effects of thiopental anesthesia (4 mg/100 g, i.v.) on plasma glucose, insulin, triacylglycerol, and prolactin levels in rats treated with bromocriptine (BR) (0.

Changes in peripheral energy metabolism during audiogenic seizures in rats.

Plasma glucose and lactate, hepatic glycogen and epididymal adipose tissue lipogenesis and lipolysis were studied in Wistar audiogenic rats (WARs), a genetic model of epilepsy, under three experimental conditions, i.e., before, 3 min after and 10 min after seizures induced by intense sound exposure.