Sex- and depot-dependent differences in adipocyte morphology and gene expression in diet-induced obesity

Biological sex differences have been observed in the development of obesity-related metabolic comorbidities. The aim was to determine the sex-specific response to high-fat diet (HFD) consumption on metabolic profile and adipose tissue dysfunction in male and female Wistar rats.

24 Wistar male and female rats were fed a normal chow diet or a HFD for 4 months. Body weight and food intake were periodically registered, and markers of the metabolic profile as well as the expression of inflammatory factors in visceral and subcutaneous adipose depots were measured.

HFD-induced hyperphagia and weight gain were sexually dimorphic, with females displaying higher relative caloric intake (P < 0.001) but being protected against obesity and metabolic alterations, with significantly reduced (P < 0.001) body weight gain. The varying relationships of gene expression profiles with glucose homeostasis and inflammation biomarkers suggest that the different fat depots have distinct contributions to overall energy metabolism.

Although female rats exhibited increased food intake and visceral adipose tissue hypertrophy, they were protected against HFD-induced obesity and exhibited better glucose homeostasis, indicating a metabolically healthy expansion of adipose tissue. Sexual differences in adipose tissue may have important implications for developing sex-specific therapeutic strategies for obesity and related metabolic disorders.

Differences between males and females in the development of complications associated to obesity have been observed. Our study focuses on determining the sex differences in the response to a diet in metabolism and fat. Twenty-four Wistar rats-half male, half female-were given either a normal diet or a diet rich in fat for four months. Their body weight and how much they ate were checked regularly. The study also measured signs of metabolic health and how much certain inflammation-related substances were present in different types of fat from diverse regions. The results showed that males and females reacted differently to the high-fat diet. Even though female rats ate more calories compared to their body size, they did not gain as much weight as the males and were less likely to develop obesity or other metabolic problems. Female rats also had better glucose control. The study found that genes and inflammation markers were different in the fat tissues of males and females, suggesting that fat storage works differently in each sex. Even when female rats ate more, they stayed healthier and had better metabolism than male rats. These differences between males and females in how body fat works could be important for creating different treatments for obesity and related health problems for each sex.