Determinants of intramyocellular lipid concentrations in rat hindleg muscle.
The investigation of intramyocellular lipids (IMCLs) with proton MR spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) in humans has recently received increasing attention. IMCL levels correlate with insulin resistance and are affected by diet and exercise, making IMCL an interesting marker for metabolic investigations. In the present in vivo study, the feasibility of using (1)H MRS for the detection of IMCL in rats is demonstrated, and the influence of various factors, such as age, gender, muscle type, and rat strain, on IMCL levels is systematically analyzed. In healthy Wistar and Sprague Dawley (SD) rats, the highest ratios of IMCL/tCr were found in young rats, and IMCL/tCr decreased with increasing age. In addition, IMCL concentration was clearly influenced by gender and muscle type. Insulin-resistant, male, obese, Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats showed significantly higher IMCL levels than Wistar or SD rats. In conclusion, although IMCL levels are clearly influenced by insulin resistance, several other factors influence IMCL levels, such as age, gender, muscle type, and rat strain. Therefore, when using IMCL as a surrogate marker for insulin resistance, it is necessary to carefully compare results with age- and gender-matched controls, and to use identical conditions.
Neumann-Haefelin
Claudia
C
Aventis Pharma Deutschland GmbH, Frankfurt, Germany. Claudia.Neumann-Haefelin@aventis.com
Kuhlmann
Johanna
J
Belz
Ulrich
U
Kalisch
Juergen
J
Quint
Manfred
M
Gerl
Martin
M
Juretschke
Hans-Paul
HP
Herling
Andreas W
AW
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006614:Hindlimb; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011924:Rats, Zucker
D008055:Lipids