Improved glucose tolerance in acyl CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1-null mice is dependent on diet.
BACKGROUND
Mice that lack acyl CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase (Dgat1-/- mice) are reported to have a reduced body fat content and improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. Studies so far have focussed on male null mice fed a high fat diet and there are few data on heterozygotes. We compared male and female Dgat1-/-, Dgat1+/- and Dgat1+/+ C57Bl/6 mice fed on either standard chow or a high fat diet.


RESULTS
Body fat content was lower in the Dgat1-/- than the Dgat1+/+ mice in both experiments; lean body mass was higher in male Dgat1-/- than Dgat1+/+ mice fed on the high fat diet. Energy intake and expenditure were higher in male Dgat1-/- than Dgat1+/+ mice; these differences were less marked or absent in females. The body fat content of female Dgat1+/- mice was intermediate between that of Dgat1-/- and Dgat1+/+ mice, whereas male Dgat1+/- mice were similar to or fatter than Dgat1+/+ mice. Glucose tolerance was improved and plasma insulin reduced in Dgat1-/- mice fed on the high fat diet, but not on the chow diet. Both male and female Dgat1+/- mice had similar glucose tolerance to Dgat1+/+ mice.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that although ablation of DGAT1 improves glucose tolerance by preventing obesity in mice fed on a high fat diet, it does not improve glucose tolerance in mice fed on a low fat diet.
Wang
Steven J Y
SJ
Clore Laboratory, University of Buckingham, Buckingham MK18 1EG, UK. steven.wang@astrazeneca.com
Cornick
Claire
C
O'Dowd
Jacqueline
J
Cawthorne
Michael A
MA
Arch
Jonathan R S
JR
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D001835:Body Weight; D051048:Diacylglycerol O-Acyltransferase / Q000172:deficiency*; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout
D001786:Blood Glucose; C494882:Dgat1 protein, mouse; D051048:Diacylglycerol O-Acyltransferase