Elevated hypothalamic beacon gene expression in Psammomys obesus prone to develop obesity and type 2 diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate hypothalamic beacon gene expression at various developmental stages in genetically selected diabetes-resistant and diabetes-prone Psammomys obesus. In addition, effects of dietary energy composition on beacon gene expression were investigated in diabetes-prone P. obesus.


METHODS
Hypothalamic beacon gene expression was measured using Taqman fluorogenic PCR in 4-, 8- and 16-week-old animals from each genetically selected line.


RESULTS
Expression of beacon was elevated in the diabetes-prone compared with diabetes-resistant P. obesus at 4 weeks of age despite no difference in body weight between the groups. At 8 weeks of age, hypothalamic beacon gene expression was elevated in diabetes-prone animals fed a high-energy diet, and was correlated with serum insulin concentration.


CONCLUSIONS
P. obesus with a genetic predisposition for the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes have elevated hypothalamic beacon gene expression at an early age. Overexpression of beacon may contribute to the development of obesity and insulin resistance in these animals.
Walder
K
K
Metabolic Research Unit, School of Health Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia. walder@deakin.edu.au
Ziv
E
E
Kalman
R
R
Whitecross
K
K
Shafrir
E
E
Zimmet
P
P
Collier
G R
GR
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D015870:Gene Expression; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005849:Gerbillinae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D014452:Ubiquitins
D007328:Insulin; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D014452:Ubiquitins; C498170:Ubl5 protein, rat