Abdominal Irradiation Ameliorates Obesity in ob/ob Mice

Leptin-deficient ob/ob mice are a murine model for obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes. Here we report that non-lethal abdominal irradiation (a single fraction of 850 cGy) to ob/ob mice retarded rapid gain of body weight, leading to amelioration of obesity without marked changes in food intake. This effect was observed only in ob/ob mice and not in lean controls. Reduction of body weight was accompanied by decreased adipose tissue weight without any marked change in the size of adipocytes, indicating prevention of hyperplasia rather than hypertrophy. Gene expression of the radiation-inducible cdk-inhibitor, p21, and the adipocytokines, tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-1beta, were induced as expected; but genes involved in adipogenesis such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma and adipsin were not affected in the irradiated adipose tissue. Inversely, hepatic lipid content was elevated with concomitant increases in the expression of lipogenic enzymes such as fatty acid synthase (FAS), and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c. Despite the decreased adiposity, there was no improvement in hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia after the irradiation. In conclusion, abdominal irradiation to ob/ob mice affected the progression of obesity and altered the energy metabolism between organs through a novel mechanism, implicating a new approach or factor for understanding and treatment of obesity.