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Body Composition and Metabolic Caging Analysis in High Fat Fed Mice
Published on: May 24, 2018
Effects of Red Rice Bran Extract on High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity and Insulin Resistance in Mice
Narongsuk Munkong1, Arthid Thim-Uam2, Sirinat Pengnet3
1Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Phayao, Phayao 56000, Thailand.
Abstract:
Insulin resistance is a salient player in the pathogenesis of obesity and its related abnormal glucose-insulin homeostasis. Red rice bran extract (RRBE) demonstrates several bioactive phytochemicals with anti-diabetic properties. However, little is known about its molecular mechanisms. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the anti-insulin resistant mechanisms of RRBE in a model of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced insulin resistance. In this study, mice were randomly divided into four groups: low-fat diet with distilled water (Group L), HFD with distilled water (Group H), HFD with 0.5 g/kg RRBE, and HFD with 1 g/kg RRBE. Metabolic parameters, histological changes in the pancreas, and gene expression levels were evaluated after treating HFD-fed mice with RRBE for six weeks. Mice from Group H exhib-ited significantly higher blood glucose levels prior to and after an oral glucose tolerance test, fasting serum insulin levels, islet size, pancreatic insulin expression levels, and lower skeletal muscle insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) expression levels compared to Group L. In contrast, these were all significantly restored in the RRBE-treated groups. Also, RRBE treatment was found to upregulate the expression of insulin receptor substrate (IRS) and glucose transporter (GLUT) genes in the adipose tissues and GLUT genes in the muscles and livers of HFD-fed mice. According to our results, RRBE may ameliorate abnormal glucose-insulin metabolism by modulating the expression of insulin, IDE, IRS, and GLUT genes in the major metabolic target tissues of mice after being fed with HFD.
Insights
Red rice bran extract (RRBE) improves glucose-insulin homeostasis in mice with high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance. RRBE modulates key gene expressions, offering a potential therapeutic strategy for metabolic disorders.
Area of Science:
- Metabolic research
- Nutritional science
- Molecular biology
Background:
- Insulin resistance is central to obesity and abnormal glucose-insulin metabolism.
- Red rice bran extract (RRBE) contains phytochemicals with potential anti-diabetic effects.
- The molecular mechanisms of RRBE in insulin resistance are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the anti-insulin resistant mechanisms of RRBE.
- To evaluate RRBE's effects in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced mouse model.
- To analyze metabolic, histological, and gene expression changes.
Main Methods:
- Mice were fed either a low-fat diet or HFD, with some HFD groups receiving RRBE (0.5 g/kg or 1 g/kg) for six weeks.
- Evaluated metabolic parameters, including blood glucose and fasting serum insulin.
- Assessed pancreatic histology and gene expression of insulin, insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE), insulin receptor substrate (IRS), and glucose transporter (GLUT) in target tissues.
Main Results:
- HFD-induced mice showed elevated blood glucose, insulin levels, and islet size, with reduced skeletal muscle IDE expression.
- RRBE treatment significantly restored these metabolic parameters and pancreatic histology.
- RRBE upregulated IRS and GLUT gene expression in adipose tissue and GLUT in muscle and liver.
Conclusions:
- RRBE ameliorates abnormal glucose-insulin metabolism in HFD-fed mice.
- RRBE's mechanism involves modulating the expression of insulin, IDE, IRS, and GLUT genes.
- RRBE shows promise as a therapeutic agent for managing insulin resistance and related metabolic disorders.

