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Dietary lipids regulate beta-oxidation enzyme gene expression in the developing rat kidney
F Ouali1, F Djouadi, C Merlet-Bénichou
1Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale Unité 319, Université Paris 7 Denis Diderot, 75251 Paris Cedex 05, France.
The American Journal of Physiology
|November 14, 1998
Summary
Dietary lipids upregulate fatty acid oxidation enzymes in young rat kidneys. This rapid response, occurring within hours of high-fat intake, is mediated by PPARalpha, not glucagon.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Physiology
Background:
- Fatty acid oxidation is crucial for energy metabolism in the kidney.
- The regulation of beta-oxidation enzymes in the immature kidney is not fully understood.
- Dietary influences on renal gene expression during development warrant investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how dietary lipids affect gene expression of fatty acid beta-oxidation enzymes in immature rat kidneys.
- To determine the roles of glucagon and PPARalpha in mediating this gene regulation.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of mRNA levels for LCAD, MCAD, and ACO in renal cortex and medulla of young rats.
- Dietary manipulation (high-fat diet) and timed feeding experiments.
- Administration of clofibrate (PPARalpha agonist) and glucagon.
Main Results:
- High-fat diet upregulated LCAD, MCAD, and ACO mRNA in the renal cortex, but not medulla.
- Upregulation occurred rapidly (within 6 hours) after lipid ingestion.
- PPARalpha activation mediated the upregulation, while glucagon was ineffective.
Conclusions:
- Dietary lipids physiologically regulate beta-oxidation enzyme gene expression in the developing renal cortex.
- PPARalpha appears to be a key mediator in this process.
- Kidney fatty acid metabolism is sensitive to dietary fat intake during early life.