Hypertriglyceridemic Rats Fed High Fat Diet as a Model of Metabolic Syndrome

Abstract

People with metabolic syndrome have higher risk of cardiovascular diseases then those without. The aim of the work was to investigate whether high fat diet administered to Prague hereditary hypertriglyceridemic (HTG) rats can induce signs of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Our results showed that HTG rats fed high fat diet (HTGch) had disturbed glucose metabolism and also lipid metabolism – increased serum triacylglycerols (TAG), total cholesterol (Ch), low-density lipoprotein-Ch (LDL-Ch), and decreased high-density lipoprotein-Ch (HDL-Ch). Their livers proved markers of developing steatosis. Moreover, HTGch had increased blood pressure, yet the vascular endothelium was not significantly damaged. All these changes were accompanied with oxidative stress and tissue damage identified as increased liver concentrations of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and activity of the lysosomal enzyme N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase (NAGA). We assume that the model used may be suitable for the study of MetS with no evidence of obesity. Prolongation of the high fat diet duration might have a major impact on all parameters tested, especially on vascular endothelial function.

Effect of metabolic syndrome on neural plasticity and morphology of the hippocampus: correlations of neurological deficits with physiological status of the rat

“…In conclusion, even though obesity was not present in HTG-FRD rats, marked morphological alterations in the liver, such as hepatomegaly with the presence of steatosis, were observed as a result of FRD. Based on this observation as well as on results presented in our previous work (Kaprinay et al 2016), HTG rats on FRD could serve as an experimental tool for the study of metabolically unhealthy non-obese individuals. The fat-rich diet-induced thickening of the abdominal aorta wall suggests most likely impaired vascular elasticity.…”

“…To mimic MetS-like conditions, the model of hypertriacylglycerolemic (HTG) rats was established (Zicha et al 2006). Moreover, we found and published recently (Kaprinay et al 2016) that hypertriacylglycerolemia of these rats combined with fat-rich diet (FRD) resulted in markedly disturbed lipid metabolism expressed by increased total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, decreased high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and disturbed glucose metabolism, compared to HTG rats fed standard diet (SD). These changes in the serum lipidic profile were accompanied with oxidative stress and tissue damage identified as increased liver concentrations of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and increased specific activity of the lysosomal enzyme N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase.…”

“…Based on dyslipidemia and increased oxidative stress as a result of hypertriacylglycerolemia of HTG rats combined with FRD (Kaprinay et al 2016), we hypothesized that neurological deficits could manifest under these stronger experimental conditions for induction of MetS. The aim of this work was thus to compare this improved model for MetS (HTG rats fed FRD) with the initial approach suggested for MetS study model (HTG rats fed SD) (Zicha et al 2006).…”

Endothelial dysfunction in experimental models of metabolic syndrome − effect of fructose

“…Vascular endothelial dysfunction, which can lead to atherosclerosis, belongs to the first signs of cardiovascular disorders (Oostrom et al, 2002). In our previous work (Kaprinay et al 2016), we found that hypertriglyceridemic rats fed high fat, high cholesterol diet (HTGChol) are suitable non-obese models of MS, however, without significant changes in the vascular endothelium. The most important components of MS are hyperglycemia and glucose intolerance that are accompanied with oxidative stress − reduction of antioxidant activity and increased production of reactive oxygen species ( The aim of the work was to find an experimental model suitable for the study of endothelial dysfunction induced by MS. We used hypertriglyceridemic rats (HTG) that were fed a hypercholesterolemic diet of different composition and duration: a 6-week administration of standard diet with an addition of cholesterol and fat (HTGChol) and a three-month administration of the same diet with an addition of fructose (HTGCholF).…”

The effect of venlafaxine on blood pressure and ECG in rats fed with high-fat-fructose diet

“…HFFD was enriched with 10% of fructose, 7.5% of lard and 1% of cholesterol. The experimental model of metabolic syndrome was designed and prepared at the Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, Centre of Experimental Medicine of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (Kaprinay et al, 2016;.…”