A High-Fat High-Sucrose Diet Rapidly Alters Muscle Integrity, Inflammation and Gut Microbiota in Male Rats

Abstract

The chronic low-level inflammation associated with obesity is known to deleteriously affect muscle composition. However, the manner in which obesity leads to muscle loss has not been explored in detail or in an integrated manner following a short-term metabolic challenge. In this paper, we evaluated the relationships between compromised muscle integrity, diet, systemic inflammatory mediators, adipose tissue, and gut microbiota in male Sprague-Dawley rats. We show that intramuscular fat, fibrosis, and the number of pro-inflammatory cells increased by 3-days and was sustained across 28-days of high-fat high-sugar feeding compared to control-diet animals. To understand systemic contributors to muscle damage, dynamic changes in gut microbiota and serum inflammatory markers were evaluated. Data from this study links metabolic challenge to persistent compromise in muscle integrity after just 3-days, a finding associated with altered gut microbiota and systemic inflammatory changes. These data contribute to our understanding of early consequences of metabolic challenge on multiple host systems, which are important to understand as obesity treatment options are developed. Therefore, intervention within this early period of metabolic challenge may be critical to mitigate these sustained alterations in muscle integrity.

Gut Microbiota Contribute to Age-Related Changes in Skeletal Muscle Size, Composition, and Function: Biological Basis for a Gut-Muscle Axis

“…To assess the relationship between gut microbiota, inflammation, and muscle composition, Collins et al subjected young rats to a high-fat high-sucrose diet and found an increase in Enterobacteriaceae (gram-negative member of the Proteobacteria phylum) and a decrease in the abundance of Lactobacillus spp ., changes that have been similarly reported with aging [83, 84]. Concomitant with these changes, the authors reported an increase in circulating inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, and MCP-1) and intramuscular fat after just 3 days [85], suggesting rapid dysregulation of these seemingly inter-connected systems. Regulation of muscle composition by gut microbiota is supported by associations between gut bacteria involved in energy metabolism and porcine intramuscular fat content [86].…”

Maternal prebiotic supplementation reduces fatty liver development in offspring through altered microbial and metabolomic profiles in rats

“…Serum samples were prepared and analyzed for LPS and protein as previously described (22–24). Twenty‐seven markers were quantified in serum using a rat 27‐plex assay and LuminexxMAP technology (Eve Technologies, Calgary, AB, Canada).…”

Acute and chronic changes in rat soleus muscle after high-fat high-sucrose diet

“…This compromise in muscle integrity can be observed at very early time points, as early as 3 days on HFS, and appears to be sustained in glycolytic skeletal muscles (Collins et al. ).…”

“…However, studies detailing short‐term and long‐term responses in oxidative soleus muscle integrity to metabolic challenge are lacking (Collins et al. ). Although many previous studies aimed at producing muscle atrophy (denervation, casting, hind limb suspension) in the soleus muscle (Bodine et al.…”