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Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2009; 117(8): 400-405
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1102918
Article

© J. A. Barth Verlag in Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Fat and Cholesterol Diet Induced Lipid Metabolic Disorders and Insulin Resistance in Rabbit

H. Zheng1 , 2 , C. Zhang1 , W. Yang2 , Y. Wang3 , Y. Lin1 , P. Yang1 , Q. Yu1 , J. Fan1 , 4 , E. Liu1
  • 1Laboratory Animal Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Xi’an, China
  • 2Department of Geriatrics, The Second Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Xi’an, China
  • 3Department of Endocrine, The Second Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Xi’an, China
  • 4Department of Molecular Pathology, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine and Engineering, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
Further Information

Publication History

received 05.10.2007 first decision 09.01.2008

accepted 24.10.2008

Publication Date:
19 March 2009 (online)

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Abstract

Background: Lipid disorder has been found to result in insulin resistance (IR). IR often is associated with other cardiovascular risk factors. However, the pathogenesis of human IR is not completely understood.

Methods: The present study was designed to examine if rabbits were fed with a diet containing high fat and high-cholesterol diet (HFCD) could develop lipid disorder and subsequently IR. Male Japanese white rabbits were fed either a normal chow diet or HFCD for 20 weeks. Plasma levels of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), glucose, and insulin were measured. To evaluate glucose metabolism, we performed an intravenous glucose tolerance test. In addition, we compared adipose tissue accumulation and aortic atherosclerosis lesions in HFCD-fed rabbits with those in control rabbits.

Results: In HFCD-fed rabbits there was an increase in plasma levels of TC and TG as well as visceral adipose tissue accumulation. Severe aortic atherosclerotic lesions were found in HFCD-fed rabbits. Although there were no differences in body weight, plasma insulin and blood pressure between the two groups, HFCD-fed rabbits showed higher insulin IR index compared to control rabbits.

Conclusion: Our results showed that HFCD induced IR, increased adipose accumulation and atherosclerotic lesions in rabbits, suggesting that the HFCD-fed rabbits can serve as a model for the research on human IR and lipid metabolism abnormalities.

Key words

insulin resistance - hypertriglyceridemia - central obesity - disorder - rabbits

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Correspondence

Dr. E. Liu

Professor and Director

Laboratory Animal Center

Xi’an Jiaotong University School of Medicine

Xi’an 710061

China

Phone: 86/29/8265 70 57

Fax: 86/29/8265 70 57

Email: liuenqi@mail.xjtu.edu.cn