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Body Composition and Metabolic Caging Analysis in High Fat Fed Mice
Published on: May 24, 2018
Effect of nicotine on body composition in mice
Michael Mangubat1, Kabirullah Lutfy, Martin L Lee
1Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Sciences-UCLA School of Medicine, 1731 East 120th Street, Los Angeles, California 90059, USA.
The Journal of Endocrinology
|December 6, 2011
Summary
Nicotine reduces weight gain and abdominal fat in mice, even on a high-fat diet (HFD). This effect is mediated by nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), suggesting potential therapeutic applications for obesity.
Area of Science:
- Metabolism and Endocrinology
- Pharmacology
- Obesity Research
Background:
- Nicotine is known to induce weight loss in humans and rodents on standard diets.
- The impact of nicotine on body weight and fat composition in rodents consuming a high-fat diet (HFD) remains understudied.
- Understanding nicotine's effects on HFD-induced obesity is crucial for developing targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of nicotine on body weight and fat composition in mice fed either an HFD or a normal chow diet (NCD).
- To determine the role of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in mediating nicotine's effects on weight and fat accumulation.
Main Methods:
- Mice were fed either an HFD (62% kcal from fat) or NCD for 7 weeks and treated with nicotine or saline.
- Body weight gain and caloric intake were monitored throughout the study.
- Computed tomography (CT) was used to assess fat distribution, and nAChR antagonists/agonists were employed to elucidate receptor involvement.
Main Results:
- Nicotine dose-dependently reduced body weight gain in both diet groups, with a more significant effect observed in the HFD group.
- Nicotine decreased caloric intake, accounting for all reduced weight gain in the NCD group and 66% in the HFD group.
- CT analysis revealed that nicotine effectively reduced abdominal and visceral fat in mice on the HFD. Mecamylamine completely blocked nicotine's effects, while varenicline partially blocked them.
Conclusions:
- Nicotine is effective in preventing high-fat diet-induced weight gain and abdominal fat accumulation.
- The effects of nicotine on weight loss and fat reduction are mediated through nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs).
- These findings suggest nicotine's potential as a therapeutic agent for managing obesity and associated metabolic disorders.
