scholarly journals NPY Deficiency Prevents Postmenopausal Adiposity by Augmenting Estradiol-Mediated Browning

2018 ◽  
Vol 75 (6) ◽  
pp. 1042-1049
Author(s):  
Seongjoon Park ◽  
Erkhembayar Nayantai ◽  
Toshimitsu Komatsu ◽  
Hiroko Hayashi ◽  
Ryoichi Mori ◽  
...  

Abstract The orexigenic hormone neuropeptide Y (NPY) plays a pivotal role in the peripheral regulation of fat metabolism. However, the mechanisms underlying the effects of sex on NPY function have not been extensively analyzed. In this study, we examined the effects of NPY deficiency on fat metabolism in male and female mice. Body weight was slightly decreased, whereas white adipose tissue (WAT) mass was significantly decreased as the thermogenic program was upregulated in NPY-/- female mice compared with that in wild-type mice; these factors were not altered in response to NPY deficiency in male mice. Moreover, lack of NPY resulted in an increase in luteinizing hormone (LH) expression in the pituitary gland, with concomitant activation of the estradiol-mediated thermogenic program in inguinal WAT, and alleviated age-related modification of adiposity in female mice. Taken together, these data revealed a novel intracellular mechanism of NPY in the regulation of fat metabolism and highlighted the sexual dimorphism of NPY as a promising target for drug development to reduce postmenopausal adiposity.

Author(s):  
Jazmin A Cole ◽  
Mackenzie N Kehmeier ◽  
Bradley R Bedell ◽  
Sahana Krishna Kumaran ◽  
Grant D Henson ◽  
...  

Abstract Vascular endothelial function declines with age on average, but there is high variability in the magnitude of this decline within populations. Measurements of frailty, known as frailty index (FI), can be used as surrogates for biological age, but it is unknown if frailty relates to the age-related decline in vascular function. To examine this relation, we studied young (4-9 months) and old (23-32 months) C57BL6 mice of both sexes. We found that FI was greater in old compared with young mice, but did not differ between old male and female mice. Middle cerebral artery (MCA) and mesenteric artery endothelium-dependent dilation (EDD) also did not differ between old male and female mice; however, there were sex differences in the relations between FI and EDD. For the MCA, FI was inversely related to EDD among old female mice, but not old male mice. In contrast, for the mesenteric artery, FI was inversely related to EDD among old male mice, but not old female mice. A higher FI was related to a greater improvement in EDD with the superoxide scavenger TEMPOL in the MCAs for old female mice and in the mesenteric arteries for old male mice. FI related to mesenteric artery gene expression negatively for extracellular superoxide dismutase (Sod3) and positively for interleukin-1β (Il1b). In summary, we found that the relation between frailty and endothelial function is dependent on sex and the artery examined. Arterial oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory signaling are potential mediators of the relations of frailty and endothelial function.


Endocrinology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 153 (3) ◽  
pp. 1183-1193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong Guo ◽  
Yuanyuan Zhang ◽  
David A. Brockman ◽  
Wendy Hahn ◽  
David A. Bernlohr ◽  
...  

We have previously characterized lipocalin 2 (Lcn2) as a new adipokine having a critical role in energy and lipid metabolism in male mice. Previous studies by others have suggested that Lcn2 is a putative target gene of estrogens. In this study, we reported the effect of Lcn2 deficiency on estradiol biosynthesis and estrogen receptor signaling in female Lcn2-deficient (Lcn2−/−) mice. We found that Lcn2 expression in white adipose tissue is gender, depot, and age dependent. In female mice, Lcn2 is predominantly expressed in inguinal adipose tissue but at relatively very low levels in perigonadal depot and ovary. After 22 wk of high-fat diet (HFD) feeding or at old age, Lcn2−/− female mice had significantly reduced levels of serum 17β-estradiol and down-regulated expression of estrogen receptor α in multiple metabolic tissues. Consistently, the expression of estrogen-regulated genes involved in cholesterol homeostasis, such as liver X receptor β and low-density lipoprotein receptor was also down-regulated in the adipose tissue of Lcn2−/− mice. These changes were in line with the development of atherogenic dyslipidemia in response to HFD feeding; female Lcn2−/− mice had significantly elevated levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, whereas reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels compared with wild-type female mice. Interestingly, when compared with wild-type controls, HFD-fed female Lcn2−/− mice had significantly reduced expression levels of aromatase, a key enzyme regulating estradiol biosynthesis, in adipose tissue. Moreover, Lcn2 deficiency markedly blunted age-related increase in adipose aromatase expression but had no significant impact on age-related reduction in ovarian aromatase expression. Our findings suggest that Lcn2 has a tissue-specific role in adipose estradiol biosynthesis, which may link Lcn2 to obesity- and age-related estradiol production and metabolic complications in females.


2018 ◽  
Vol 50 (8) ◽  
pp. 605-614
Author(s):  
Hong He ◽  
Katie Holl ◽  
Sarah DeBehnke ◽  
Chay Teng Yeo ◽  
Polly Hansen ◽  
...  

Type 2 diabetes is a complex disorder affected by multiple genes and the environment. Our laboratory has shown that in response to a glucose challenge, two-pore channel 2 ( Tpcn2) knockout mice exhibit a decreased insulin response but normal glucose clearance, suggesting they have improved insulin sensitivity compared with wild-type mice. We tested the hypothesis that improved insulin sensitivity in Tpcn2 knockout mice would protect against the negative effects of a high fat diet. Male and female Tpcn2 knockout (KO), heterozygous (Het), and wild-type (WT) mice were fed a low-fat (LF) or high-fat (HF) diet for 24 wk. HF diet significantly increases body weight in WT mice relative to those on the LF diet; this HF diet-induced increase in body weight is blunted in the Het and KO mice. Despite the protection against diet-induced weight gain, however, Tpcn2 KO mice are not protected against HF-diet-induced changes in glucose or insulin area under the curve during glucose tolerance tests in female mice, while HF diet has no significant effect on glucose tolerance in the male mice, regardless of genotype. Glucose disappearance during an insulin tolerance test is augmented in male KO mice, consistent with our previous findings suggesting enhanced insulin sensitivity in these mice. Male KO mice exhibit increased fasting plasma total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations relative to WT mice on the LF diet, but this difference disappears in HF diet-fed mice where there is increased cholesterol and triglycerides across all genotypes. These data demonstrate that knockout of Tpcn2 may increase insulin action in male, but not female, mice. In addition, both male and female KO mice are protected against diet-induced weight gain, but this protection is likely independent from glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and plasma lipid levels.


Endocrinology ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 144 (6) ◽  
pp. 2311-2318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Cai ◽  
Tiane Dai ◽  
Yan Ao ◽  
Tamiko Konishi ◽  
Kuang-Hsiang Chuang ◽  
...  

Abstract To study the functional role of retinoid X receptor α (RXRα) in hepatocytes, hepatocyte RXRα-deficient mice have been established. Characterization has been performed on male mice. In this paper, we show that the expression of CYP450 genes is differentially expressed in male and female hepatocyte RXRα-deficient mice; male mice have reduced expression of cytochrome P450 (CYP) CYP4A, CYP3A, and CYP2B mRNAs, but females do not exhibit such phenotypes. To examine the hormonal effects on this sexual dimorphic phenotype, male and female mice were subjected to 17β-estradiol and 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) treatment, respectively, and then the expression of the CYP450 genes was studied. Estradiol had no effect on protecting the hepatocyte RXRα-deficient mice from reduced expression of the CYP450 genes. In contrast, DHT induced hepatocyte RXRα-deficient female mice, but not wild-type female mice, to have the reduced expression of CYP450 mRNAs. In addition, castration prevented the mutant male mice from exhibiting reduced expression of CYP450 mRNAs. wild-type and mutant mouse livers from both genders express androgen receptors (ARs). By transient transfection, DHT-AR could inhibit RXRα-mediated transcription. Furthermore, by transfection and coimmunoprecipitation, RXR can interact with AR in vivo. These data suggest that testosterone has a negative impact on retinoid signaling when the level of RXRα is low, which may in turn reduce the expression of the CYP450 genes.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 637
Author(s):  
Priyanka Sharma ◽  
Guojun Wu ◽  
Deeptha Kumaraswamy ◽  
Natalie Burchat ◽  
Hong Ye ◽  
...  

7,8-Dihydroxyflavone (DHF) is a naturally occurring flavonoid that has been reported to protect against a variety of pathologies. Chronic administration of DHF prevents high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity in female, but not male, mice. However, the mechanisms underlying this sexual dimorphism have not been elucidated. We have discovered that oral DHF supplementation significantly attenuates fat mass, hepatic lipid accumulation, and adipose tissue inflammation in female mice. In contrast, male mice were not protected from adiposity, and had a paradoxical worsening of hepatic lipid accumulation and adipose tissue inflammation upon DHF supplementation. Consistent with these sexually dimorphic effects on body weight and metabolic health, 7,8-DHF induced early and stable remodeling of the female intestinal microbiome. DHF supplementation significantly increased gut microbial diversity, and suppressed potentially detrimental bacteria, particularly Desulfovibrionaceae, which are pro-inflammatory and positively associated with obesity and inflammation. Changes in the female gut microbiome preceded alterations in body weights, and in silico analyses indicated that these early microbial changes were highly predictive of subsequent weight gain in female mice. While some alterations in the intestinal microbiome were also observed in male DHF-supplemented mice, these changes were distinct from those in females and, importantly, were not predictive of subsequent body weight changes in male animals. The temporality of microbial changes preceding alterations in body weight in female mice suggests a role for the gut microbiome in mediating the sexually dimorphic effects of DHF on body weight. Given the significant clinical interest in this flavonoid across a wide range of pathologies, further elucidation of these sexually dimorphic effects will aid the development of effective clinical therapies.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (105) ◽  
pp. 14-19
Author(s):  
Andrej Fokin ◽  
Petras Minderis ◽  
Rasa Žūkienė ◽  
Aivaras Ratkevičius

Background.  Citrate  synthase  (CS)  plays  an  important  role  in  the  regulation  of  carbohydrate  oxidation. Variation in citrate synthase activity has an influence on metabolic changes. We tested the hypothesis that reduced mitochondrial CS activity could affect energy expenditure (EE) and respiratory quotient (RQ) in mouse model with an emphasizing on gender differences between tested strains. Methods. 16-week of age wild-type C57Bl/6J (B6) mouse strain, B6.A-(rs3676616-D10Utsw1)/Kjn (B6.A) and C57BL/6J-Chr 10A/J/NaJ (B6.A10) strains with reduced CS activity were studied in physiocage by the “Panlab” metabolism analysing equipment. The following parameters were calculated: EE (ml/min/kg^0.75), RQ, physical activity and rearing. Results. In female mice EE values were lower in B6.A10 strain compared to wild-type B6 strain. RQ values were similar in all tested mouse strains. In B6 mice EE was higher in females compared to males. Rearing was elevated in females of B6 mice compared to males. Conclusions. EE was lower in B6.A10 compared to B6 mice. Gender differences were noticed only in B6 mice: EE and rearing were significantly higher in female compared to male mice. Current study did not reveal any other association between reduced CS activity and EE or RQ variation in male and female mice.


Blood ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 128 (22) ◽  
pp. 2421-2421
Author(s):  
Constance Tom Noguchi ◽  
Heather Marie Rogers

Erythropoietin (EPO) promotes erythroid differentiation and increases glucose uptake in erythroid progenitor cells in culture. The metabolic burden associated with EPO treatment in adult mice is suggested by a decrease in body weight concomitant with increased hematocrit. Wild type male mice (C57Bl/6, age 8 months) treated with EPO showed the expected increase in hematocrit accompanied by a fall in blood glucose level and a decrease in body weight and fat mass. However, the decrease in body weight is even more evident in obese mice on a high fat diet and has also been linked to non-hematopoietic response, particularly with EPO receptor (EpoR) expression in white adipose tissue. We examined the metabolic burden of EPO treatment (3000U/kg for 3 weeks) in young, lean male mice (3 months) placed on high fat diet at the time of EPO administration. The increase in hematocrit was accompanied by decreased blood glucose level and improved glucose tolerance. However, no difference in body weight was observed between mice treated with EPO and the saline treated group, suggesting that the EPO stimulated decrease in body weight is evident primarily in older animals with greater fat mass. To determine the contribution of EpoR expression in non-hematopoietic tissue to the metabolic EPO response, young male mice with EpoR restricted to erythroid tissue (TgEpoR) were placed on high fat diet and treated with EPO. The expected increased hematocrit was also accompanied by decreased blood glucose level and improved glucose tolerance, and no change in body weight between EPO and saline treatment. The similar responses observed in young wild type and TgEpoR mice suggest that the EPO stimulated increase in glucose metabolism is associated with increased erythropoiesis rather than a direct EPO response in non-hematopoietic tissue. TgEpoR mice exhibit an age dependent increase in fat mass even greater than that observed in wild type mice, and by 8 months TgEpoR mice are obese, glucose intolerant and insulin resistant compared with wild type mice. At 8 months, TgEpoR mice treated with EPO show the increase in hematocrit and, despite the increase in fat mass, there is only a minimal decrease in body weight compared with wild type mice. These data provide evidence that in addition to the age dependent association of EPO stimulated decrease in body weight and fat mass, this decrease in body weight is due largely to EPO response related to EpoR expression in non-hematopoietic tissue. Interestingly, young male mice with targeted deletion of EpoR in adipose tissue placed on a high fat diet and treated with EPO show the increase in hematocrit and improvement in glucose tolerance, and at 8 months, the increase in hematocrit with EPO treatment is accompanied by minimal change in body weight. The similar metabolic response of these mice with targeted deletion of EpoR in adipose tissue to TgEpoR mice indicate the contribution of EpoR expression in adipose tissue to the loss of body weight and fat mass. Therefore, the metabolic burden associated with EPO stimulated erythropoiesis appears to be reflected in improved glucose metabolism and glucose tolerance with minimal or no effect on body weight, is evident in young, lean mice, and is independent of EpoR expression in non-hematopoietic tissue. In older mice, non-hematopoietic metabolic EPO response is more readily apparent as reflected in loss of body weight/fat mass, which overshadows the erythropoietic metabolic response. In combination, the metabolic response to EPO treatment results from EPO stimulated increased erythropoiesis, improved glucose metabolism and glucose tolerance, and an age dependent decrease in body weight and fat mass associated with EpoR expression in non-hematopoietic tissue, particularly in white adipose tissue. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen J. Nickelson ◽  
Kelly L. Stromsdorfer ◽  
R. Taylor Pickering ◽  
Tzu-Wen Liu ◽  
Laura C. Ortinau ◽  
...  

Expansion of intra-abdominal adipose tissue and the accompanying inflammatory response has been put forward as a unifying link between obesity and the development of chronic diseases. However, an apparent sexual dimorphism exists between obesity and chronic disease risk due to differences in the distribution and abundance of adipose tissue. A range of experimental protocols have been employed to demonstrate the role of estrogen in regulating health benefits; however, most studies are confounded by significant differences in body weight and adiposity. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare weight-matched obese male and female mice to determine if the sex-dependent health benefits remain when body weight is similar. The development of obesity in female mice receiving a high-fat diet was delayed; however, subsequent comparisons of weight-matched obese mice revealed greater adiposity in obese female mice. Despite excess adiposity and enlarged adipocyte size, obese females remained more glucose tolerant than weight-matched male mice, and this benefit was associated with increased expression of adiponectin and reductions in immune cell infiltration and oxidative stress in adipose tissue. Therefore, the protective benefits of estrogen persist in the obese state and appear to improve the metabolic phenotype of adipose tissue and the individual.


1995 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph D. Cirvello ◽  
Ann Radovsky ◽  
James E. Heath ◽  
Daniel R. Farnell ◽  
Charles Lindamood

t-Butyl alcohol (TBA) was administered in drinking water to F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice for two years using 60 animals/dose/sex/species. Male rats received doses of 0, 1.25, 2.5, or 5 mg/ml and females received 0, 2.5, 5, or 10 mg/ml, resulting in average daily doses of approximately 85, 195, or 420 mg TBA/kg body weight for males and 175, 330, or 650 mg/kg for females. Ten rats per group were evaluated after 15 months. Male and female mice received doses of 0, 5, 10, or 20 mg/ml, resulting in average daily doses of approximately 535, 1,035, or 2,065 mg TBA/kg body weight for males and 510, 1,015, or 2,105 mg/kg for females. Survival was significantly reduced in male rats receiving 5 mg/ml, female rats receiving 10 mg/ml, and male mice receiving 20 mg/ml. Long-term exposure to TBA produced increased incidences of renal tubule adenoma and carcinoma in male rats; transitional epithelial hyperplasia of the kidney in male and female rats; follicular cell adenoma of the thyroid in female mice; and follicular cell hyperplasia of the thyroid and inflammation and hyperplasia of the urinary bladder in male and female mice. In addition, a slight increase in follicular cell adenoma or carcinoma of the thyroid (combined) in male mice may have been related to the administration of TBA.


Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1861 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie A.H. Jacobs ◽  
Eveline Gart ◽  
Debby Vreeken ◽  
Bart A.A. Franx ◽  
Lotte Wekking ◽  
...  

Background: Sex-specific differences play a role in metabolism, fat storage in adipose tissue, and brain structure. At juvenile age, brain function is susceptible to the effects of obesity; little is known about sex-specific differences in juvenile obesity. Therefore, this study examined sex-specific differences in adipose tissue and liver of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice, and putative alterations between male and female mice in brain structure in relation to behavioral changes during the development of juvenile obesity. Methods: In six-week-old male and female Ldlr-/-.Leiden mice (n = 48), the impact of 18 weeks of HFD-feeding was examined. Fat distribution, liver pathology and brain structure and function were analyzed imunohisto- and biochemically, in cognitive tasks and with MRI. Results: HFD-fed female mice were characterized by an increased perigonadal fat mass, pronounced macrovesicular hepatic steatosis and liver inflammation. Male mice on HFD displayed an increased mesenteric fat mass, pronounced adipose tissue inflammation and microvesicular hepatic steatosis. Only male HFD-fed mice showed decreased cerebral blood flow and reduced white matter integrity. Conclusions: At young age, male mice are more susceptible to the detrimental effects of HFD than female mice. This study emphasizes the importance of sex-specific differences in obesity, liver pathology, and brain function.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document