title: Ldlr-/- mice display decreased susceptibility to Western-type diet-induced obesity due to increased thermogenesis.
abstract: The low-density lipoprotein receptor (Ldlr) is a key molecule involved with lipid clearance. The Ldlr(-/-) mouse has been used extensively as a model for studying atherosclerosis. This study sought to characterize the energy balance phenotype of Ldlr(-/-) mice with respect to weight gain, body composition, energy expenditure (EE), glucose homeostasis, and leptin sensitivity. Adult Ldlr(-/-) mice and Ldlr(+/+) controls on a C57Bl/6J background were fed either a chow or a high-fat, high-sucrose Western-type diet (WTD) for eight wk. Physiological studies of food intake, EE, activity, insulin sensitivity, and leptin responsiveness were performed. The effect of these diet interventions on circulating leptin and on leptin gene expression was also examined. On the chow diet, Ldlr(-/-) mice had lower EE and higher activity levels relative to controls. On the WTD, Ldlr(-/-) mice gained less weight relative to Ldlr(+/+) mice, specifically gaining less fat mass. Increased thermogenesis in Ldlr(-/-) mice fed the WTD was detected. Additionally, leptin responsiveness was blunted in chow-fed Ldlr(-/-) mice, suggesting a novel role for the Ldlr pathway that extends to leptin's regulation of energy balance. In addition to its known role in lipid transport, these results demonstrate the importance of the Ldlr in energy homeostasis and suggest a direct physiological link between altered lipid transport and energy balance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Genetics, Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Ying Fai
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Ngai
authors.forename: Whitney L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Quong
authors.forename: Melissa B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Glier
authors.forename: Maria M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Glavas
authors.forename: Sandra L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Babich
authors.forename: Sheila M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Innis
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Kieffer
authors.forename: William T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Gibson
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D002151:Calorimetry; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000378:metabolism*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000378:metabolism*; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D020738:Leptin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011973:Receptors, LDL / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D022722:Thermogenesis / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D011973:Receptors, LDL