Protein kinase Cδ contributes to phenylephrine-mediated contraction in the aortae of high fat diet-induced obese mice

Astilbe chinensisFranch. et Savat. (AC) has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of chronic bronchitis, arthralgia, and gastralgia. In this study, we investigated the antiobesity effect of AC extract on 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and high-fat-diet-fed C57BL/6N obese mice. We found that AC extracts dramatically decreased the lipid content of 3T3-L1 cells in a concentration-dependent manner without cytotoxicity. The action mechanism of AC extract was demonstrated to be the inhibition of lipid accumulation and dose-dependent decrease in the expression of CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteinα(C/EBPα), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ(PPAR-γ), and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1). Furthermore, AC extract increased the mitochondrial phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), mitochondrial biogenesis, and lipolysis-related factors. In amice model of high-fat-diet-induced obesity, the mice administered AC extract experienced significant decrease of 64% in weight gain, 55% in insulin resistance index, 22% in plasma triglycerides (TG), 56% in total cholesterol (TC), and 21% in nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels compared with those in the high-fat diet-fed control mice. Collectively, these results indicated that AC extract exerted antiobesogenic activity through the modulation of the AMPK signaling pathway, inhibition of adipogenesis, decreased lipid content, and reduced adipocyte size.

Download Full-text

Effects of different intensities of physical exercise on insulin sensitivity and protein kinase B/Akt activity in skeletal muscle of obese mice

Einstein (São Paulo) ◽

10.1590/s1679-45082014ao2881 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 82-89 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Rodolfo Marinho ◽

Leandro Pereira de Moura ◽

Bárbara de Almeida Rodrigues ◽

Luciana Santos Souza Pauli ◽

Adelino Sanchez Ramos da Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Skeletal Muscle ◽

Insulin Sensitivity ◽

Protein Kinase ◽

High Fat Diet ◽

Protein Kinase B ◽

Whole Body ◽

Control Group ◽

Standard Diet ◽

Obese Mice ◽

High Fat

Objective : To investigate the effects of different intensities of acute exercise on insulin sensitivity and protein kinase B/Akt activity in skeletal muscle of obese mice. Methods : Swiss mice were randomly divided into four groups, and fed either a standard diet (control group) or high fat diet (obese sedentary group and obese exercise group 1 and 2) for 12 weeks. Two different exercise protocols were used: swimming for 1 hour with or without an overload of 5% body weight. The insulin tolerance test was performed to estimate whole-body sensitivity. Western blot technique was used to determine protein levels of protein kinase B/Akt and phosphorylation by protein Kinase B/Akt in mice skeletal muscle. Results : A single bout of exercise inhibited the high fat diet-induced insulin resistance. There was increase in phosphorylation by protein kinase B/Akt serine, improve in insulin signaling and reduce of fasting glucose in mice that swam for 1 hour without overload and mice that swan for 1 hour with overload of 5%. However, no significant differences were seen between exercised groups. Conclusion : Regardless of intensity, aerobic exercise was able to improve insulin sensitivity and phosphorylation by protein kinase B/Ak, and proved to be a good form of treatment and prevention of type 2 diabetes.

Download Full-text