Liver Steatosis is a Component of the Hepatocardiorenal Syndrome Provoked by a High-Lipid Diet and Activation of Ang II Pathways in Rats

Overweight/obesity is a growing pandemic nowadays that affects many organs and tissues. We have investigated whether a high-lipid diet provokes an imbalance between type 1 and type 2 angiotensin II (Ang II) receptors signaling, leading to liver alterations associated with previously described cardiovascular and kidney disturbances. Chronic administration of a high-lipid diet can provoke an hepatocardiorenal syndrome as the result of activation of the Ang II→type 1 receptor axis, which is completely counteracted by Ang-(3–4) the allosteric enhancer of the Ang II→type 2 receptor pathway.

Hypolipidemic effects of curcumin, cinnamon, vitamin C and simvastatin in domestic rabbits

This study investigated the hypolipidemic effects of curcumin, cinnamon, vitamin C and simvastatin in male rabbits. The hypolipidemic effect of these materials were assessed by following the effects on body weight, the lipid profile and liver enzymes. The lipid profile includes total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL). The liver activities enzymes include aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in serum. Highly significant increases in lipid profile parameters of rabbit group were found in rabbits fed with high lipid diet only over the respective values in the control group. Liver function profile showed a significant increase in this group as compared to those in the control group. The groups treated with curcumin, cinnamon, vitamin C and simvastatin showed a variable significant decrease in lipid profile in this order: cinnamon > vitamin C > simvastatin > curcumin and in liver functions profile in this order: curcumin > simvastatin > vitamin C > cinnamon. Groups treated with these materials showed significant body loss as compared to untreated rabbits in this order: cinnamon > curcumin > vitamin C > simvastatin.

Myo-inositol improves growth performance and regulates lipid metabolism of juvenile Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) fed different percentage of lipid

This study evaluated the effects of dietary myo-inositol (MI) on growth performance, body composition, antioxidant status and lipid metabolism of juvenile Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) fed different percentage of lipid. Crabs (4.58 ± 0.05 g) were fed four diets including a normal lipid diet (N, containing 7% lipid and 0 mg/kg MI), N with MI supplementation (N+MI, containing 7% lipid and 1600 mg/kg MI), a high lipid diet (H, containing 13% lipid and 0 mg/kg MI) and H with MI supplementation (H+MI, containing 13% lipid and 1600 mg/kg MI) for 8 weeks. The H+MI group showed higher weight gain and specific growth rate than those in the H group. The dietary MI could improve the reduction of whole-body protein content, low MI content in the hepatopancreas, and lipid accumulations in the whole-body, hepatopancreas and muscle as a result of feeding on the high dietary lipid (13%) in crabs. Besides, the crabs fed the H+MI diets increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes, but reduced the malondialdehyde content in hepatopancreas compared with those fed the H diets. Moreover, dietary MI enhanced the expression of genes involved in lipid oxidation and exportation, yet reduced lipid absorption and synthesis genes expression in the hepatopancreas of crabs fed the H diet, which might be related to the activation of IP3R/CaMKKβ/AMPK signalling pathway. This study demonstrates that MI could increase lipid utilization and reduce lipid deposition in the hepatopancreas of E. sinensis fed a high lipid diet through IP3R/CaMKKβ/AMPK activation. This work provides new insights into the function of MI in the diet of crustaceans.

Influence of Non-protein Diets on Hepatic Metabolism and Endocrine in Barramundi (Lates calcarifer)

This study evaluated the effects of different dietary non-protein energy sources on hepatic metabolism and endocrine of barramundi. Fish were fed iso-energy diets (18 MJ kg–1) with two types of non-protein energy source in the experimental group and a regular diet was used as the control. The feeding trial lasted 56 days. In the present study, CPT1 and SCD expression in fish fed high lipid diet were upregulated and liver lipid metabolism was more active than the control group. Serum biochemical parameters including serum glucose, serum triacylglycerol and serum cholesterol were significantly increased. The IGF-I and IGF-II expressions were significantly upregulated, and growth performances were improved in fish fed the high lipid diet. When barramundi were fed with the high carbohydrate diet, GK expression was downregulated and cPEPCK expression was upregulated, indicating that glycogen might accumulate in liver. The fluctuation of serum biochemical parameters and the growth performance were not significantly different compared to the control group. In conclusion, high lipid diet can shorten the raising period, but it causes the change of metabolic level and the increase of useless adipose tissue; The high carbohydrate diet did not significantly improve the growth performance, and no significant metabolic abnormalities were observed, indicating that carbohydrate has the potential to be the feed energy supply source for juvenile barramundi. The results provide insights for further understanding the availability of non-protein energy sources in the diet of juvenile barramundi.