Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 8, 2026

Palatable Western-style Cafeteria Diet as a Reliable Method for Modeling Diet-induced Obesity in Rodents
Published on: November 1, 2019
Induction of uterine hyperplasia after cafeteria diet exposure
María Paula Gastiazoro1, Marlise Guerrero-Schimpf1, Milena Durando1
1Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Santa Fe, Argentina.
Abstract:
Our aim was to evaluate whether chronic administration of CAF affects the uterus and induces the morphological and molecular changes associated with endometrial hyperplasia. Female Wistar rats exposed to CAF from weaning for 20 weeks displayed increased energy intake, body weight and fat depots, but did not develop metabolic syndrome. The adult uteri showed an increase in glandular volume fraction and stromal area. The epithelial proliferation rate and protein expression of oestrogen receptor alpha (ERα) were also increased. The CAF diet enhanced leptin serum levels and the long form of leptin receptor (Ob-Rb) mRNA expression in the uterus. No changes were detected in either insulin serum levels or those of insulin growth factor I (IGF-I) mRNA expression. However the levels of IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) mRNA were lower in CAF-fed animals. Overall, the results indicate that our rat model of the CAF diet produces morphological and molecular changes associated with uterine hyperplasia and could predispose to endometrial carcinogenesis.
Related Concept Videos
Uterine Tubes
Induction
A...
Self-Inductance
Consider a circuit connected to an AC source. As the current varies with time, the magnetic flux through the circuit correspondingly changes. Faraday's law tells us that an emf would...
Mutual Inductance
When two circuits carrying time-varying currents are close to one another, the magnetic flux through each circuit varies because of the changing current in the other circuit. Consequently, an emf is induced in each circuit by the changing current in the other. Therefore, this type of emf is called...
Inductive Reasoning
Inductive reasoning is common in descriptive science. A life scientist makes observations and records them. This data can be qualitative or...
Mathematical Induction

