Individual differences in response to a chronic high-fat diet in striped hamsters (Cricetulus barabensis)

Adult male striped hamsters (Cricetulus barabensis) were fed an HFD for 12 weeks to examine individual differences in response to chronic exposure to a high-fat diet (HFD). The hamsters were subsequently assigned to three experimental groups according to those that exhibited body weight gain (GW), a stable body weight (SW), or body weight loss (LW). The GW group showed a profile of HFD-induced obesity, with the highest levels of energy intake, fat content, brown adipose tissue (BAT) mass, UCP1 gene expression in the BAT, and lipid metabolism. The SW group was resistant to HFD, showing lower levels of the above-mentioned markers than those of the GW group. In addition, the LW group appeared to be aversive to HFD, displaying a negative body mass gain compared to the other two groups. Group differences in the relative abundance of several strains of the gut microbiota were also observed, suggesting the potential involvement of the gut microbiota in individual variation in the sensitivity, resistance, and aversive responses to HFD-induced obesity. These data demonstrate the utility of the striped hamster model in functional studies of the mechanisms underlying HFD-induced obesity and its potential treatment and prevention.