Metabolic Phenotyping in Mice with NASH Using Indirect Calorimetry

Obesity caused by caloric overload has assumed epidemic proportions. Obesity is frequently associated with metabolic dysfunctions, such as type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Metabolic phenotyping is a set of techniques for studying metabolic dysfunction and behavior information including energy expenditure, body weight gain, glucose homeostasis, and lipid profile. Among different metabolic phenotyping methods, indirect calorimetry is an indispensable tool for quantifying the energy balance/imbalance in various mouse models, which enables researchers to probe the development of disease and to evaluate the therapeutic benefit from different interventions. In this chapter, we will describe the procedures of metabolic phenotyping using indirect calorimetry in db/db mouse, a metabolic disorder mouse model which develops NASH.