Classification of different degrees of adiposity in sedentary rats

Abstract

In experimental studies, several parameters, such as body weight, body mass index, adiposity index, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, have commonly been used to demonstrate increased adiposity and investigate the mechanisms underlying obesity and sedentary lifestyles. However, these investigations have not classified the degree of adiposity nor defined adiposity categories for rats, such as normal, overweight, and obese. The aim of the study was to characterize the degree of adiposity in rats fed a high-fat diet using cluster analysis and to create adiposity intervals in an experimental model of obesity. Thirty-day-old male Wistar rats were fed a normal (n=41) or a high-fat (n=43) diet for 15 weeks. Obesity was defined based on the adiposity index; and the degree of adiposity was evaluated using cluster analysis. Cluster analysis allowed the rats to be classified into two groups (overweight and obese). The obese group displayed significantly higher total body fat and a higher adiposity index compared with those of the overweight group. No differences in systolic blood pressure or nonesterified fatty acid, glucose, total cholesterol, or triglyceride levels were observed between the obese and overweight groups. The adiposity index of the obese group was positively correlated with final body weight, total body fat, and leptin levels. Despite the classification of sedentary rats into overweight and obese groups, it was not possible to identify differences in the comorbidities between the two groups.

Prospective study on intracranial pressure waveform morphology and its relationship with the development of obesity in rats

“…At week 12, we identi ed BF close to 20% in OB rats classi ed as overweight, but the BM was similar to Ambrosi (2011) 27 and Leopoldo (2016) 28 at 15 weeks of obesity induction classi ed as obese, however, the diet used in the present study had a higher caloric index. Therefore, we believe that week 12 may be the ideal point for inducing obesity.…”

“…Therefore, we used the same standard of reference for humans ≥ 20% overweight and ≥ 25% obese for men 27 , being an important reference value for future work with rats. At the end of the experiment, an average of very close to 25% of adult males can be observed, however, our data variability explains a little lower average, and the BM classi es them as obese 27,28 , and some animals that had presented BF above 25%, being classi ed as obese through the BF. Thus, our results are in line with those in the literature, but we would like to observe these alterations over time in more detail, and a gold standard assessment such as the one carried out in the present study, brings this depth.…”

Adipocytes and intestinal epithelium dysfunctions linking obesity to inflammation induced by high glycemic index pellet-diet in Wistar rats

“…The sum of the three compartments of adipose tissue was considered as total visceral fat. The visceral adiposity index was calculated by adapting the formula used by Leopoldo et al [ 30 ], replacing total body fat with total visceral fat: …”

Fenugreek, A Potent Hypoglycaemic Herb Can Cause Central Hypothyroidism Via Leptin – A Threat To Diabetes Phytotherapy

“…It has been shown that leptin mRNA is correlated with protein levels present in adipose tissue and its expression is influenced by the energy stored in the body fat [28]. Plasma leptin correlates with total body fat mass and adiposity index [14,26] which actually is a good indicator of fat accumulation [29]. Zimmermann-Belsing [30] demonstrated that leptin increases exponentially with increasing fat mass.…”

“…After autopsy retroperitoneal, visceral and epididymal fat mass were dissected out from each animal and weighed. Adiposity index was calculated in percentage as given below [14]:…”