Voluntary exercise improves murine dermal connective tissue status in high-fat diet-induced obesity.
Obesity is a risk factor for several cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Its influence on the skin is less obvious, yet certain negative effects of adipose tissue inflammation on the dermis have been suggested. Excess weight is closely associated with sedentary behavior, so any increase in physical activity is considered beneficial against obesity. To investigate the effects of obesity and physical exercise on the skin, we established a mouse model in which mice were kept either on a high-fat diet or received standard chow. After the two groups achieved a significant weight difference, physical exercise was introduced to both. Animals were given the opportunity to perform voluntary exercise for 40 min daily in a hamster wheel for a period of 8 weeks. We evaluated the status of the dermis at the beginning and at the end of the exercise period by in vivo nonlinear microscopy. Obese mice kept on high-fat diet lost weight steadily after they started to exercise. In the high-fat diet group, we could detect significantly larger adipocytes and a thicker layer of subcutaneous tissue; both changes started to normalize after exercise. Nonlinear microscopy revealed an impaired collagen structure in obese mice that improved considerably after physical activity was introduced. With the ability to detect damage on collagen structure, we set out to address the question whether this process is reversible. With the use of a novel imaging method, we were able to show the reversibility of connective tissue deterioration as a benefit of physical exercise.
Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Dermatooncology, Semmelweis University, 41 Mária Street, Budapest, 1085, Hungary.
Kende
K
Lőrincz
Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Dermatooncology, Semmelweis University, 41 Mária Street, Budapest, 1085, Hungary.|Institute for Solid State Physics and Optics of Wigner RCP, Budapest, Hungary.
Dóra
D
Haluszka
Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Dermatooncology, Semmelweis University, 41 Mária Street, Budapest, 1085, Hungary.|Institute for Solid State Physics and Optics of Wigner RCP, Budapest, Hungary.
Norbert
N
Kiss
Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Dermatooncology, Semmelweis University, 41 Mária Street, Budapest, 1085, Hungary.
Nóra
N
Gyöngyösi
Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Dermatooncology, Semmelweis University, 41 Mária Street, Budapest, 1085, Hungary.
András
A
Bánvölgyi
Institute for Solid State Physics and Optics of Wigner RCP, Budapest, Hungary.|R&D Ultrafast Lasers Ltd, Budapest, Hungary.
Róbert
R
Szipőcs
Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Dermatooncology, Semmelweis University, 41 Mária Street, Budapest, 1085, Hungary. wikonkal.norbert@med.semmelweis-univ.hu.
Norbert M
NM
Wikonkál
D017667:Adipocytes / Q000473:pathology; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000502:physiology*; D020405:Dermis / Q000502:physiology*; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009765:Obesity / Q000473:pathology; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D057185:Sedentary Behavior
Adipose tissue inflammation; In vivo nonlinear microscopy; Matrix degradation; Obesity; Physical exercise