title: Influence of squalene feeding on plasma leptin, testosterone & blood pressure in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Obesity, hyperlipidaemia and hypercholesterolaemia are known risk factors in the pathogenesis of hypertension. Squalene has been shown to reduce serum cholesterol and triglycerides in dogs although its therapeutic use in high BP and obese patients has not been established. This study evaluates the effect of feeding high doses of squalene on plasma leptin, glucose, testosterone, blood pressure (BP) and body fat in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Wistar rats (male, 22 days old) were randomly divided into two groups receiving either regular control diet or a squalene-containing diet. After feeding squalene for 4 wk, 10 rats each from the squalene and control groups were sacrificed and blood samples were collected for measurement of leptin, cholesterol, triglycerides and testosterone. Blood pressure was monitored weekly.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following squalene feeding, BP and body weight gain were lower in the squalene group. BP was significantly lower from 47 days of age in squalene fed group compared to controls. The levels of plasma leptin, glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly lower in squalene fed rats than those from the control group at 51 and 75 days of age. However, testicular weights (only 75 days) and testosterone levels were significantly higher in rats from the squalene group than those from the control group at days 51 and 75.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggested that squalene may counteract the increase in body fat, BP and levels of plasma leptin, glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides. These effects of squalene may be further explored as a likely new approach for clinical management of high BP and obesity.
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Sciences & Veterinary Medicine , Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China.
authors.forename: Yuxi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xianhuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Dingren
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bi
authors.forename: Xiliang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xixiong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hanchuan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Shunyou
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Weimin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D002681:China; D004032:Diet; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013185:Squalene / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D020738:Leptin; D013739:Testosterone; D013185:Squalene