title: Ghrelin suppression and fat loss after left gastric artery embolization in canine model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of left gastric artery embolization (LGAE) on plasma ghrelin levels, abdominal fat, and body weight in beagles.
  
  
  METHODS
  The institutional animal care and use committee approved this study. Fifteen healthy adult beagles (12 male and three female animals) were randomly divided into three experimental groups: LGAE was proceeded with mixed emulsion of bleomycin A(5) hydrochloride and lipiodol (group A), and polyvinyl alcohol particles (group B). Transcatheter saline injections in the left gastric artery were performed as a control. Weight and fasting plasma ghrelin levels were obtained at baseline and at weekly intervals for 8 weeks after the procedure in all animals. All animals were scanned and measured by multidetector computed tomography at baseline and at week 8 for evaluation of abdominal fat.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In LGAE-treated animals, plasma ghrelin and body weight significantly decreased compared to control animals (group A: P = 0.007 and P = 0.000; group B: P = 0.004 and P = 0.000, respectively). Subcutaneous fat size was also significantly reduced (P = 0.011 and P = 0.027 for groups A and B, respectively). The decreasing percentage in ghrelin levels at week 6 (peak of recovery) of LGAE-treated animals were negatively correlated with the size of area supplied by left gastric artery (r = -0.693, P = 0.026).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LGAE could suppress the plasma concentration of ghrelin, which results in subcutaneous fat size reduction and weight loss. Compensatory ghrelin production might occur in the remnant gastric fundus after LGAE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China.
authors.forename: Dilmurat
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bawudun
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.forename: Wen-Ya
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yu-Jie
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Wei-Xin
authors.initials: WX
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Xiao-Dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Gao-Jun
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Teng
mesh_terms: D050153:Abdominal Fat / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D000818:Animals; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004285:Dogs; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D004998:Ethiodized Oil / Q000494:pharmacology; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood*; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol / Q000494:pharmacology; D011897:Random Allocation; D013270:Stomach / Q000098:blood supply*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin; D001761:Bleomycin; D004998:Ethiodized Oil; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol