Exercise modifies fatty acid perception and metabolism.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Physiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Obesity is a significant global health concern linked to numerous chronic diseases.
• Voluntary wheel running (VWR) in rodents impacts eating habits and metabolic processes.
• Understanding exercise's role in modulating taste perception is crucial for obesity management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how voluntary wheel running (VWR) affects fat taste perception in obese mice.
• To determine if VWR can mitigate the immediate metabolic consequences of fatty acid (FA) consumption.
• To explore the molecular mechanisms underlying VWR-induced changes in fat taste signaling.

Main Methods:

• Male C57BL/6 mice were divided into sedentary (SED) and VWR groups after a 5-week diet.
• Evaluated fat preference, glucose tolerance, and performed electrophysiological recordings in taste bud cells (TBCs).
• Assessed gene expression of CD36 and GPR120 in TBCs, key players in fat taste perception.

Main Results:

• VWR temporarily reduced body weight and improved glucose homeostasis in obese mice.
• Enhanced preference scores for fatty acids (FAs) were observed in VWR-exercising obese mice.
• Electrophysiology revealed altered calcium signaling in CD36-positive TBCs; gene expression differences in CD36 and GPR120 were noted between VWR and SED groups.

Conclusions:

• VWR induces orosensory adaptations related to fat taste perception.
• Exercise significantly alters taste preferences for long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs).
• These findings suggest VWR as a potential strategy to modify dietary fat intake and improve metabolic health.