Experimental Studies to Define the Role of Calcium (Ca2+) and Voltage-Gated Calcium Channel Blockers (vCa-CCB) against Neurosteroid Induced Obesity

Introduction: Obesity is closely associated with various types of illness, primarily caused by more calorie intake than body burn. In adipocytes, Calcium (Ca2+) is an important second messenger involved in the regulation of many physiological functions which are essential for survival. In the present research, we have investigated the role of Ca2+ ions in obesity by manipulating cytosolic Ca2+ ion concentration by selective blocking/advancing the Ca2+ ions through the voltage-gated calcium channels. Voltage-gated calcium channel (vCa) plays a key role in regulating intracellular and extracellular Ca2+ concentration. Cytoplasmic level of Ca2+ was manipulated by supplying calcium carbonate and by using vCa blockers i.e. nifedipine- (N-type- vCa-CCB) and ethosuximide (T-type, vCa-CCB). Methods: Obesity was induced by progesterone in female mice and test drugs were co-administered with progesterone whereas sibutramine was used as standard. The treatment was carried out for 28 days, during and after the treatment period various parameters were studied viz food consumption, change in body weight and temperature, the effect on WAT (white adipose tissue, adiposity index, histology of fat pad) and fecal lipid content. Results: Calcium carbonate treated group has shown promising effects in the decrease in body weight by increasing fecal lipid content and lipolysis which was reflected by an increase in body temperature. Ethosuximide also offered significant protection by decreasing the food intake but has not shown any notable effect on fecal fat content, whereas nifedipine has not offered any protection against the obesity induced by neurosteroid. Conclusion: Calcium carbonate has significant anti-obesity activity by including thermogenesis, and increasing fecal lipid content.

Jaboticaba (Myrciaria jaboticaba (Vell.) Berg.) peel improved triglycerides excretion and hepatic lipid peroxidation in high-fat-fed rats

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of high-fat diets with 1%, 2%, and 4% freeze-dried jaboticaba peel on the serum, liver, and fecal lipid profile of obese rats. METHODS: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups. Obesity was induced in four groups using a high-fat diet (35% lipids). One group was used as a high-fat diet control (High-fat group - HF). The other three high-fat-diet groups were given 1%, 2%, and 4% freeze-dried jaboticaba peel (High-Fat Jaboticaba - HFJ1, HFJ2, and HFJ4, respectively) in the last 40 experimental days. Blood and the liver were collected after 70 days of treatment and feces were collected in the last experimental week. Total cholesterol, triglycerides, and lipids were measured in the serum, liver, and dried feces. ffer in the experimental groups. HFJ2 group had the highest hepatic and fecal lipid contents compared with the group fed a diet with normal fat content (N), but low hepatic lipid peroxidation. HFJ4 group had the highest mean hepatic and fecal cholesterol levels. Hepatic triglyceride levels did not differ among the groups, and groups HFJ1 and HFJ4 presented the highest fecal triglyceride content. CONCLUSION: The amounts of jaboticaba peel used by this study did not protect against hepatic steatosis or undesired levels of other studied lipids, but it did increase fecal triglycerides. Lipid peroxidation in the liver decreased in the HFJ2 group.