Biological effects of diesel exhaust inhalation. III cardiovascular function.

Objective: Inhalation of diesel exhaust (DE) has been shown to be an occupational hazard in the transportation, mining, and gas and oil industries. DE also contributes to air pollution, and therefore, is a health hazard to the general public. Because of its effects on human health, changes have been made to diesel engines to reduce both the amounts of particulate matter and volatile fumes they generate.

Diet high in oat β-glucan activates the gut-hypothalamic (PYY₃₋₃₆-NPY) axis and increases satiety in diet-induced obesity in mice.

This study tested the effects of (1→3),(1→4) β-D-glucan from oats, on activation of the gut-hypothalamic (PYY₃₋₃₆-NPY) axis, satiety, and weight loss in diet-induced obesity (DIO) mice. DIO mice were fed standard lab chow diets or varied doses of β-glucan for 6 weeks. Energy intake, satiety, body weight changes and peptide Y-Y₃₋₃₆ (PYY₃₋₃₆) were measured together with a satiety test and measurement of neuropeptide Y (NPY) mRNA expression in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (Arc).

Inter-meal interval is increased in mice fed a high whey, as opposed to soy and gluten, protein diets.

This study aimed to characterise meal patterns and satiety effects of diets that are high in protein but differ in protein source. Using a computerised automatic recording system, meal pattern behaviour was recorded continuously for 7 days in mice fed single (whey, soy or gluten) or different combined protein diets. Overall, average energy intake was significantly lower in mice fed a whey protein diet than those fed soy, gluten and lab chow diets.

Differential expression of hypothalamic CART mRNA in response to body weight change following different dietary interventions.

Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) peptide is widely expressed in the hypothalamus and is involved in the central regulation of energy balance. Using in situ hybridization, this study examined the roles of CART peptide in the hypothalamus of diet-induced obese (DIO) or diet-resistant (DR) mice under different dietary interventions including high-fat (HF), low-fat (LF) and pair-feeding (PF) diet for 6 weeks. Pair feeding the energy intake of the DIO and DR mice was used to determine whether there is an inherent difference in baseline CART expression that may cause the DIO and DR phenotypes.

Ventromedial hypothalamic NPY Y2 receptor in the maintenance of body weight in diet-induced obesity in mice.

This study examined changes in neuropeptide Y (NPY) Y2 receptor binding in the brains of C57BL/6 mice in response to different levels of high-fat diets via three dietary intervention methods: high-fat diet, switching from high- to low-fat diet and finally, energy restricted high-fat diet. Forty-five C57Bl/6 male mice were fed a high-fat diet for 8 weeks and then classified as diet-induced obese (DIO) or diet-resistant (DR) mice according to the highest and lowest body weight gainers, respectively. The DIO and DR mice were then randomly divided into three groups each and either continued on their high-fat diet ad libitum (DIO-H and DR-H), changed to a low-fat diet (DIO-L and DR-L) or pair-fed via energy restricted high-fat diet (DIO-P and DR-P) for a further 6 weeks.

Altered levels of POMC, AgRP and MC4-R mRNA expression in the hypothalamus and other parts of the limbic system of mice prone or resistant to chronic high-energy diet-induced obesity.

The melanocortinergic system plays an important role in promoting negative energy balance and preventing excessive fat deposition. This study has investigated the levels of mRNA expression of proopiomelanocortin (POMC), agouti-related protein (AgRP) and the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4-R) in diet-induced obese (DIO) and diet-resistant (DR) mice. Thirty C57 mice were used in this study.