Blunted metabolic response to fasting in obese mice

Endocrine. 2007 Oct;32(2):192-6. doi: 10.1007/s12020-007-9016-z. Epub 2007 Nov 2.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate metabolic changes in response to fasting in normal and obese mice. C57BL6 and obese (diet-induced obesity (DIO) and ob/ob) mice were used in this study. They were fasted for 24 h and re-fed for 24 h. Body weight was monitored before, after fasting and during re-feeding (2 and 24 h after re-feeding). Food intake was measured 2 and 24 h after re-feeding began. Blood samples were taken before and after 24 h fasting. As metabolic parameters, blood glucose, plasma insulin, ghrelin levels and oxygen consumption were measured. Blood glucose and plasma insulin levels in DIO and ob/ob mice were higher than normal mice, and plasma ghrelin levels were lower in DIO and ob/ob mice. There was reduced body weight loss in DIO mice than in normal mice for 24 h fasting. When they were re-fed, DIO and ob/ob mice consumed less food intake than normal mice. Twenty-four hours food deprivation induced significantly smaller plasma ghrelin elevation in these obese mice. Fasting-induced decrease in oxygen consumption was significantly smaller in DIO and ob/ob mice than normal mice. This data show that obese mice may have decreased sensitivity to fasting-induced increase in circulating ghrelin and their oxygen consumption exhibited a blunted response to fasting.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Body Weight / physiology
  • Eating / physiology
  • Energy Metabolism / physiology
  • Fasting / metabolism*
  • Ghrelin / blood*
  • Insulin / blood
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Obese
  • Obesity / metabolism*
  • Oxygen Consumption / physiology

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Ghrelin
  • Insulin