Gender dimorphism in skeletal muscle proteome between lean and diet-induced obese rats

Although it has been believed for a long time that gender differences in physiology and metabolism were not relevant beyond the reproductive system, new research has indicated that sexual dimorphism may be more prevalent than previously believed. Therefore, the goal of this study was to develop a global view of the changes in gender-dependent protein abundance in two different types of skeletal muscles (soleus and gastrocnemius) of lean and high fat diet (HFD)-induced obese rats.

To examine differential expression of proteins between gender and diet, we performed differential proteome analysis of skeletal muscle from lean and obese rats of both genders fed a HFD using 2-DE combined with MALDI-TOF-MS.

Our gender-specific proteome comparison showed that male and female rats displayed different patterns of proteome regulation including proteins involved in muscle contraction, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, as well as detoxification and antioxidant defenses.

most of the candidate proteins identified herein by differential proteomics were previously unrecognized in gender dimorphism of skeletal muscle. Our data can serve as the basis for specific evidence-based interventions allowing for the prevention and treatment of obesity by matching the different needs of women and men such as the development of gender-based medicine.