title: PGC-1α may associated with the anti-obesity effect of taurine on rats induced by arcuate nucleus lesion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effect of taurine treatment in rats with monosodium glutamate (MSG)-induced obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats with MSG-induced obesity were administered taurine for five weeks. The Lee's index, food intake, blood pressure, body temperature, body mass index (BMI), fat weight, and triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), and high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels were compared. The PGC-1α expression levels in white and brown adipose were measured using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, and pathological changes in the arcuate nucleus and liver were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the model group, BMI, TG, and LDL in the high and low taurine dose groups were significantly lower, while HDL was higher. Body temperature in the taurine treatment groups was higher, and blood pressure was lower. The weight of brown fat in the taurine treatment groups was significantly higher than in the model group, while the white fat weight was significantly lower. Compared with the control group, the PGC-1α levels in white and brown adipose were higher in the taurine treatment groups and more significantly up-regulated in brown adipose.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that taurine prevents obesity in MSG-treated rats and may be closely associated with energy metabolism.
authors.forename: Peng-juan
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Yong-jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Ming-e
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Mei-zi
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001111:Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D000071248:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012970:Sodium Glutamate / Q000009:adverse effects; D013654:Taurine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D000071248:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha; C501429:Ppargc1a protein, rat; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014280:Triglycerides; D013654:Taurine; D012970:Sodium Glutamate
keywords: Energy metabolism; Monosodium glutamate (MSG); Obesity; PGC-1α; Taurine