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[Changes of neuropeptide Y and leptin levels in rat fed with medium-chain triacylglycerides]
Shanshan Geng1, Donglian Cai, Dan Qu
1School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China. gss9814@126.com
Objective:
To investigate the effects of medium chain triglycerides (MCT) on adiposity and the modulation of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and leptin in Wistar rats.
Methods:
20 Wistar male rats were fed with diets containing 30% MCT or long chain triglycerides (LCT) for 8 weeks. Serum and hypothalamus leptin were detected by ELISA. RT-PCR was used to quantitatively compare the mRNA levels of recetpor of leptin (Ob-Rb) and NPY. The levels of serum and hypothalamic NPY were assessed by radioimmune assay.
Result:
Body weight gains and body fat accumulations of rats fed with the MCT diets were more less than those of rats fed with the LCT diets (P < 0.01). Hypothalamus and serum NPY concentrations in rats fed with the MCT diets were more lower than those in rats fed with LCT diets (P < 0.01). Rats fed with MCT diets had significantly higher ratios of hypothalamus/serum leptin in comparition with rats fed with LCT diets. The Ob-Rb mRNA levels in the hypothalamus in the rats fed with the MCT diets were more higher than in those of rats fed with the LCT diets (P < 0.01). There were no significant differences in NPY expressions between the rats fed with the LCT diets and rats fed with MCT diets.
Conclusion:
The MCT diet could decrease rats body weight gain by increasing Ob-Rb expression in hypothalamus and decreasing NPY level.
