A computed tomography scan application to evaluate adiposity in a minipig model of human obesity

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to describe and validate a computed tomography (CT) method to analyse adiposity distribution in Göttingen minipigs. Adiposity was evaluated in two groups of minipigs. In group 1 (n 8), measurements were performed before and after the induction of obesity. In group 2 (n 7), animals were fed rations designed to obtain heterogeneous adiposity before analyses. CT acquisitions were associated with anatomical, ultrasonography and body chemical measurements. Our CT method was based on acquisition of a single slice at a fixed anatomical landmark, calculation of individual X-ray density ranges for CT values and delineation of the three main adipose compartments (subcutaneous adipose tissue, SAT; retroperitoneal adipose tissue, RAT; and visceral adipose tissue, VAT). Our validation measures showed that the CT-scan method was accurate, sensitive and reliable. The CT data were found to be correlated with body weight, abdominal perimeter, ultrasonography, anatomical measurements and body chemical composition (from r 0·84 to 0·93, P,0·001 for all), with a pitfall concerning the precise estimation of VAT. With increased body weight, the amount of adipose tissue increased and the relative proportion of SAT increased, whereas the relative proportion of RAT and VAT decreased (P,0·001 for all). Adiposity measured by CT, and especially SAT, was found to be negatively correlated with insulin sensitivity (r 0·54, P,0·05). In conclusion, a precise evaluation of the adipose compartments in minipigs was done by CT. Therefore, the use of Göttingen minipigs is relevant to further investigate the relationship between the different adipose tissues and obesity.

Food preferences and aversions in human health and nutrition: how can pigs help the biomedical research?

“…Gö ttingen minipigs also have a high propensity The pig model in human nutrition (Gandarillas and Bas, 2009) Differences in the relative absorptive surface areas of the GIT (e.g. faster nutrient absorption in humans than in rats; DeSesso and Jacobson, 2001) Ability to develop human diseases Obesity (Val-Laillet et al, 2010a, 2010band 2010cClark et al, 2011), diabetes (Bellinger et al, 2006Liu et al, 2007), atherosclerosis (Xi et al, 2004;Miyoshi et al, 2010).…”

“…weight gain, overeating) in only 15 weeks and in response to diets enriched in carbohydrates and lipids (e.g. Val-Laillet et al, 2010a, 2010band 2010c. Thus, conventional pigs and minipigs are often used as models of high-fat and/or high-carbohydrate diet-induced obesity (Val-Laillet et al, 2010a, 2010b, 2010c, Clark et al, 2011, diabetes (Bellinger et al, 2006;Liu et al, 2007) or atherosclerosis (Xi et al, 2004).…”

Thickness of preperitoneal fat as a predictor of malignancy in overweight and obese women with endometrial polyps

“…Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are considered to be the most reliable methods for the assessment of adipose tissue distribution (14). However, due to the high cost of CT and MRI, ultrasound has been increasingly employed for evaluation of visceral adipose tissue distribution, via measurement of the thickness of preperitoneal fat (PFT).…”

Effects of Chronic Consumption of Sugar-Enriched Diets on Brain Metabolism and Insulin Sensitivity in Adult Yucatan Minipigs

“…Similarities with the human in terms of cognition, development of food preferences and eating disorders, digestive anatomy and functions, as well as brain development and processes have been extensively described in recent reviews [5, 27, 31, 32]. Moreover, our group has previously documented the consequences of diet-induced obesity in the minipig in terms of eating behavior [33], physiology [29] and brain metabolism, highlighting for the first time ever that morbidly obese minipigs have similar brain anomalies as those described in humans, including a decreased metabolism in the prefrontal cortex and striatum in comparison to normal-weight subjects [30]. …”