Metabolic characteristics and body composition in a model of anti-obese rats (Lou/C).
OBJECTIVE
The aims of this study were to investigate some features of the metabolic profile and the body composition of male Lou/C rats and to examine whether these characteristics are strictly related to the food-intake reduction.


METHODS
Fourteen-week-old male Lou/C rats were compared with age-matched male Wistar rats fed ad libitum (WAL) and another group of male Wistar rats whose food was chronically restricted (WFR) to the same amount as the Lou/C rats from weeks 3 to 14.


RESULTS
Food intake and body weight were significantly (p < 0.01) reduced in Lou/C compared with WAL rats, whereas these reductions were perfectly reproduced in WFR rats. Lou/C rats demonstrated lower relative weights of retroperitoneal (0.97 +/- 0.07 vs. 1.67 +/- 0.16 and 1.88 +/- 0.15 g/100 g body) and epididymal (1.01 +/- 0.02 vs. 1.62 +/- 0.12 and 1.80 +/- 0.11 g/100g body) fat depots than did the two other groups and no decrease in the percentage of carcass proteins, which was observed in the WFR rats. In addition, compared with the WFR group, the Lou/C rats showed lower plasma glucose levels (3.65 +/- 0.14 vs. 4.72 +/- 0.15 and 4.7 +/- 0.19 mM); a tendency (p < 0.1) for lower liver glycogen concentrations; and similar levels of glycerol, free fatty acids, and beta-hydroxybutyrate concentrations. Epinephrine and the relative weight of the adrenal glands were significantly (p < 0.01) lower in the Lou/C rats than in the WAL rats and the two other groups, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The ability of the Lou/C rats to accumulate less body fat than their equally food-restricted Wistar counterparts (WFR) suggests a difference in basal metabolism in this strain of rats that resembles obesity-resistant rats.
Couturier
Karine
K
Equipe de Restructuration Scientifique 2019 Comité National de Recherche Scientifique-Laboratoire de Physiologie, Faculté de Médecine de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard, Lyon 1, France.
Servais
Stéphane
S
Koubi
Harry
H
Sempore
Brigitte
B
Sornay-Mayet
Marie-Hélène
MH
Cottet-Emard
Jean-Marie
JM
Lavoie
Jean-Marc
JM
Favier
Roland
R
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001823:Body Composition / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004435:Eating / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood; D005508:Food Deprivation / Q000502:physiology; D005934:Glucagon / Q000032:analysis; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D009638:Norepinephrine; D009929:Organ Size / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D005934:Glucagon; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine