• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.119-126
• /
• 1994

The effect of diets(high fat, high fat high energy, pectin, cellulose) on adipocyte of epididymal fat pads were investigated in 70 male rats for 8 weeks. The rats were assigned to a control(C), high fat(HF) and high fat high energy(HFHE) group for 4 wks. During the next 4 wks, reassigned to one of three treatments (high fat, pectin supplemented, cellulose supplemented) in the HF group and one of three treatment (high fat high energy, pectin, cellulose) in the HFHE group. Therefore, the total experimental groups were 7 (C, HF, HF-P, HF-C, HFHE, HFHE-P, HFHE-C). Parameters evaluated and compared for each diet were body weight, total energy intake, feed efficiency ratio and weight changes in epididymal fat pads. The results are summarized as follows ; 1) There was no significant difference in body weight gain among the groups. 2) Total energy intake was higher in the C group than other groups. 3) Feed efficiency ratio (F.E.R) of the HF and HFHE groups were greater than C group(2, 4 weeks). However, there were no significant differences between the HF and HFHE groups. 4) Epididymal fat pads(EFP 100g/B.W) of the FH and HFHE groups were higher than C group (2, 4 weeks). However, there were no significant differences between the HF and HFHE groups. There was no significant difference in weight gain of epididymal fat pads among the groups(8 weeks). 5) Cell number and cell size of epididymal fat pads of the HF and HFHE groups were higher than the C group. The pectin and the cellulose supplementation groups decreased cell number and cell size of epididymal fat pads. Especially, the pectin supplementation group decreased than the cellulose supplementation in HFHE group. Therefore, we can concluded that the HF and the HFHE diet has no effect on the epididymal fat pads.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.74-80
• /
• 2001

Objectives : Ma-huang is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, derived from Ephedra sinica Stapf and other Ephedra species, used to treat asthma, nose and lung congestion, and fever with anhidrosis. It contains 0.5-2.5% by weight of total alkaloids, of which ephedrine accounts for 30 to 90%. Recently, Ma-huang has been used as a source of ephedrine in many dietary supplements formulated for the treatment of obesity, since ephedrine has been found to be effective in inducing weight loss in the obese. In this study the effects of the methanol extract of Ma-huang on the adipocyte of epididymal and brown fat pads in rats fed a high fat diet for six weeks were studied. Methods : Male Sprague Dawley rats weighing an average 94g (4 weeks old) were fed either a regular diet (RE) or a high fat diet (HF), and the HF group was subdivided into a Ma-huang methanol extract (30mg/100g body weight) group (HF+MH). The weight of epididymal fat pad and brown adipose tissue were measured. The cell size and cell number per unit area of epididymal fat pad were investigated. Results : The yield weight of methanol extract of Ma-huang was 3.63mg per l00g of Ma-huang. The body weight gain of the HF group was similar with that of the HF+ MH but higher than that of the RE. The weights of the epididymal fat pads and brown adipose tissue of the RE group were lower than those of HF and HF+MH groups. The cell sizes and numbers per unit area of epididymal fat pads of the RE and HF+MH groups were larger than those of HF group. The cell numbers per unit area size of epididymal fat pads were the smallest in the RE group. Conclusions : It could be concluded that the Ma-huang extract has no effect on the epididymal fat pads in rats fed a high fat diet and the clinical application of Ma-huang for the treatment of obesity should be re-considered.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.167-179
• /
• 1986

Obesity is common disease resultly accumulated excess fat. In the model for obesity induced by high fat diet contains 30% fat, administration of ginseng extract inhibited increment of body weight, epididymal fat pads and enlargement of fat cell size. This was as the result of inhibition of lipogenesis in the liver and fat accumulation in the adipose tissues.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.53-58
• /
• 2012

Objective : Obesity is often defined as a condition associated with accumulations of excessive body fats which resulting from disorder of energy balance in term of energy intake and energy expenditure. Methods : The effects of natural mixture (T) for inhibition of lipid metabolism on the liver, epididymal fat pads and pancreatic zymogen granules of high fat diet (HFD) supplied rats were observed by histopathology and histomorphometry. Results : As results of HFD supply, severe steatohepatitis such as increases of mean diameters of hepatocytes and the percentages regions of fatty changes was detected. In addition, hypertrophy of adipocytes (increase of mean diameters of epididymal fat pads) was also detected with dramatic decreases of pancreatic zymogen granules at histopathological and histomorphometrical observations. However, theses steatohepatitis and hypertrophy of adipocytes induced by HFD supply were inhibited by treatment of 5 % and 10 % T (T5, T10), respectively. Well corresponded as the results of adipocyte hypertrophy and steatohepatitis, the decreases of pancreatic zymogen granules were also dose-dependently inhibited by T treatment as compared with HFD control, respectively. Conclusion : In conclusion, based on the results, it is considered that test materials, T5 and T10, will be showed hepatoprotective and anti-obese effects, may be directly and/or indirectly mediated by pancreatic zymogen granules because they dose-dependently inhibited steatohepatitis, hypertrophy of adipocytes and decreases of pancreatic zymogen granules induced by HFD supply, respectively.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.133-140
• /
• 1991

This study was designed to investigate age-related changes in body composition and cell mediated immunity. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed stock diet ad libitum and 12 rats were sacrified at 1, 4, 6, 12 months of age. Body weight Increased sharply from 1 to 4 months. and Increased steadily thereafter. The weights of liver, epididymal fat pads, and kidney increased in similar pattern as body weight, but their relative ratio to body weight decreased with age. The ratio of epididymal fat pads to body weight increased with age. The weight of extensor digitorium longus, coleus and plantaris increased from 1 to 4 months, but it decreased at 6, 12 months. The protein content of muscles decreased or increased through- out 12 months. The T cell proliferation response to Con A stimulation was significantly lower at 6 months than 1 month and lower at 12 months than 6 months.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.419-423
• /
• 2007

Obesity is increasingly recognized as a serious public health threat. Anti-obesity nutraceuticals that are safe and effective for the control and treatment of obesity are the subject of intense research throughout the world. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of plants such as Akebia quinata, corn silk, Crataegus pinnatifida var. psilosa, Coix lachrymajobi var. mayuen, and Lentinus edodes on fat cell size and serum lipid profile of rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were weighed, randomly assigned and fed AIN-76A basal or high fat diet for 6 weeks. Serum triacylglycerol level of rats fed a normal diet was significantly decreased with natural plants supplementation. Adipocytes from the epididymal fat pads of rats fed a high fat diet were larger than those of rats fed a normal diet. Fat cell size significantly (p<0.05) decreased with natural plants supplementation. Therefore, we found that natural plants supplementation can be used for the treatment of obesity, possibly by decreasing the body fat.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.21 no.5
• /
• pp.715-722
• /
• 2008

There are marked variations in the activity of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) among adipose depots. The aim of this study was to compare the mechanisms of 24 h of fasting on LPL regulation between epididymal (EPI) adipocytes and mesenteric (MES) adipocytes in rats. 1-Day fasting consistently decreased activities of heparin-releasable LPL, total extractable LPL and cellular LPL markedly in both EPI and MES fat pads. LPL activity in MES fat pads was relatively lower than in the EPI fat pads. Consistent with data on LPL activity, the levels of expression of LPL mRNA in both nutritional states were lower in MES than EPI adipose tissue and isolated adipocytes. The decreased LPL activity after 1 day of fasting in MES adipocytes was explained mainly by a 50% decrease in the relative abundance of LPL mRNA level and a parallel 50% decrease in relative rate of LPL synthesis. In contrast, fasting of 1 day in EPI adipocytes decreased total LPL activity by 47% but did not affect LPL mRNA level or relative rate of LPL synthesis. A decrease in overall protein synthesis contributed to the decreased LPL activity after 1 day fasting both in EPI and MES adipocytes. In MES adipocytes the decrease in LPL activity, LPL mRNA and LPL synthesis were comparable, but in EPI adipocytes the changes in LPL activity were substantially larger than the changes in LPL mRNA level and LPL synthesis. Therefore, fasting decreased fat cell size, LPL activity, LPL mRNA level and relative rate of LPL synthesis in rats, and these effects were more marked in the MES adipocytes. These results clearly demonstrate the regional variations in the metabolic response of adipose tissue and LPL functions to fasting.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.58-63
• /
• 2005

Commonly used spices in Korean cooking (red pepper powder, garlic, ginger) were evaluated for anti-obesity properties and effects on triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol in blood and adipose tissues in rats fed a high fat (20%) diet. SD rats were raised for four weeks on either a normal diet (ND, based on the AIN-93M diet), high fat diet (HFD, supplemented with 16% lard oil in the ND), or diets containing 5% red pepper powder (RPP), garlic or ginger. These spices significantly decreased weight gain compared to HFD, but garlic and ginger showed a greater effect on reducing weight gain than RPP. The weights of liver and epididymal and perirenal fat pads in garlic and ginger diet groups were lower than those of the HFD groups (p < 0.05). The garlic and ginger also decreased triglyceride and cholesterol contents in liver and epididymal and perirenal fat pad, reversing the higher levels seen in HFD. RPP, garlic and ginger supplemented diets were effective in lowering serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels (p< 0.05). These results indicated that garlic and ginger more effectively suppressed the effects of HFD on body fat gain and lipid values of adipose tissues and serum than RPP.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
• /
• v.9 no.3
• /
• pp.259-264
• /
• 2004

Baek-kimchi (whitish baechu kimchi) was evaluated for anti-obesity properties and effects on triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol in blood and adipose tissues in rats fed a high fat (20 %) diet, and compared to the similar effects of baechu kimchi. Baek-kimchi does not use red pepper powder but contains higher levels of sliced radish and pear than baechu kimchi. SD rats were raised for four weeks on either a normal diet (ND, based on the AIN-93M diet), high fat diet (HFD, supplemented with 16% lard oil in the ND), or HFD containing 5 % baek-kimchi or 5 % baechu kimchi. Feed consumption was not different among the groups, but weight gains were significantly lower in the groups fed either the normal diet or HFD with baek-kimchi or baechu kimchi diets than the group fed HFD alone. The weights of liver and epididymal and perirenal fat pads in baek-kimchi and baechu kimchi diet groups were lower than those of the HFD groups, but the baek-kimchi diet group had lower epididymal and perirenal fat pad weights than the baechu kimchi diet group (p<0.05). The baechu kimchi dietary group also had significantly lower triglyceride and cholesterol contents in liver and epididymal and perirenal fat, reversing the higher levels seen in HFD. Baek-kimchi and baechu kimchi diets were also effective in lowering serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels (p<0.05). These results suggest that baek-kimchi and baechu kimchi consumption can reverse the effects of HFD on weight gain and blood and tissue lipids, and that baek-kimchi is more effective than baechu kimchi. The greater effect is probably due to the higher content of radish and pear used in baek-kimchi.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.10 no.5
• /
• pp.494-500
• /
• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Evidence indicates that berry anthocyanins are anti-atherogenic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory. However, berries differ vastly in their anthocyanin composition and thus potentially in their biological and metabolic effects. The present study compared hypolipidemic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties of blueberry (BB), blackberry (BK), and blackcurrant (BC) in a diet-induced obesity (DIO) mouse model. MATERIALS/METHODS: Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a high fat (HF; 35% fat, w/w) control diet or a HF diet supplemented with freeze-dried 5% BB, 6.3% BK or 5.7% BC for 12 weeks (10 mice/group) to achieve the same total anthocyanin content in each diet. Plasma lipids, antioxidant status and pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured. The expression of genes involved in antioxidant defense, inflammation, and lipid metabolism was determined in the liver, epididymal adipose tissue, proximal intestine, and skeletal muscle. Histological analysis was performed to identify crown-like structure (CLS) in epididymal fat pads to determine macrophage infiltration. RESULTS: No differences were noted between the control and any berry-fed groups in plasma levels of liver enzymes, insulin, glucose, ferric reducing antioxidant power, superoxide dismutase, and tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$. However, BK significantly lowered plasma triglyceride compared with the HF control and other berries, whereas BC significantly reduced F4/80 mRNA and the number of CLS in the epididymal fat pad, indicative of less macrophage infiltration. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides evidence that BB, BK and BC with varying anthocyanin composition differentially affect plasma lipids and adipose macrophage infiltration in DIO mice, but with no differences in their antioxidant capacity and anti-inflammatory potential.