• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.148-154
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• 2003

Although various raw plant materials have been demonstrated to exert anti-obesity effects to a greater or lesser extent in both humans and animals when they are used to supplement the diet, it has not been shown extensively that they influence adipocyte cell differentiation involving lipid metabolic gene expressions. Using a well-established 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation system, we decided to look into molecular and cellular event occurring during adipocyte differentiation when raw plant materials aye included in the process, in an effort to demonstrate the potential use of a screening system to define the functions of traditionally well-known materials. To these ends, the effects of ethanol (EtOH) or EtOH/distilled water (DW) extracts of Wax Gourd were examined using cytochemical and molecular analyses to determine whether components of the extracts modulate adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-Ll preadipocytes in vitro. The cytochemical results demonstrated that EtOH or EtOH/DW extracts did not affect lipid accumulation and cell proliferation, although the degree of lipid accumulation was influenced slightly depending on the extract. EtOH extract was highly effective in apoptotic induction during differentiation of 3T3-Ll preadipocytes (p<0.05). Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), Uncoupling protein (Ucp) 2, 3 and 4 also showed that while LPL expression was not influenced, Ucp2, 3 and 4 were up regulated in the EtOH extract-treated group and down regulated in the EtOH/DW extract-treated group. These changes in gene expressions suggest that the components in different fractions of Wax Gourd extracts may modulate lipid metabolism by either direct or indirect action. Taking these results together, it was concluded that molecular and cellular analyses of adipocyte differentiation involving lipid metabolic genes should facilitate understanding of cellular events occurring during adipocyte differentiation. Furthermore, the experimental scheme and analytical methods used in this study should provide a screening system for the functional study of raw plant materials in obesity research.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.161-169
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• 2019

Fumigaclavine C (FC), an active indole alkaloid, is obtained from endophytic Aspergillus terreus (strain No. FC118) by the root of Rhizophora stylosa (Rhizophoraceae). This study is designed to evaluate whether FC has anti-adipogenic effects in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and whether it ameliorates lipid accumulation in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. FC notably increased the levels of glycerol in the culture supernatants and markedly reduced lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. FC differentially inhibited the expressions of adipogenesis-related genes, including the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor proteins, CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins, and sterol regulatory element-binding proteins. FC markedly reduced the expressions of lipid synthesis-related genes, such as the fatty acid binding protein, lipoprotein lipase, and fatty acid synthase. Furthermore, FC significantly increased the expressions of lipolysis-related genes, such as the hormone-sensitive lipase, Aquaporin-7, and adipose triglyceride lipase. In HFD-induced obese mice, intraperitoneal injections of FC decreased both the body weight and visceral adipose tissue weight. FC administration significantly reduced lipid accumulation. Moreover, FC could dose-dependently and differentially regulate the expressions of lipid metabolism-related transcription factors. All these data indicated that FC exhibited anti-obesity effects through modulating adipogenesis and lipolysis.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.11
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• pp.1632-1646
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• 2023

Objective: The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of dietary betaine (BT) supplementation on the hepatic transcriptome profiles in broiler chickens raised under heat stress (HS) conditions. Methods: A total of 180 (21-d-old) Ross 308 male broiler chicks were allotted to 1 of 3 treatment groups with 6 replicated cages in a completely randomized design. One group was kept under thermoneutral conditions at all times and was fed a basal diet (PC). Other 2 groups were exposed to a cyclic heat stress condition. One of the 2 groups under heat stress conditions was fed the basal diet as a negative control (NC), whereas the other group was fed the basal diet supplemented with 0.2% BT. All chickens were provided with diets and water ad libitum for 21 d. Following the experiment, the liver samples were collected for RNA sequencing analysis. Results: Broiler chickens in NC and BT group had decreased (p<0.05) growth performance. In the transcriptome analysis, the number of differentially expressed genes were identified in the liver by HS conditions and dietary BT supplementation. In the comparison between NC and PC treatments, genes related to energy and nucleic acid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and immune system were altered by HS, which support the reason why heat-stressed poultry had decreased growth performance. In the comparison between NC and BT treatments, genes related to lipid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and immune system were differently expressed under HS conditions. Conclusion: HS negatively impacts various physiological processes, including DNA replication, metabolism of amino acids, lipids, and carbohydrates, and cell cycle progression in broiler chickens. Dietary BT supplementation, however, offers potential counteractive effects by modulating liver function, facilitating gluconeogenesis, and enhancing immune systems. These findings provide a basis for understanding molecular responses by HS and the possible benefits of dietary BT supplementation in broiler chickens exposed to HS.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.495-505
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• 2024

Gromwell (Lithospermum erythrorhizon, LE) can mitigate obesity-induced skeletal muscle atrophy in C2C12 myotubes and high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-skeletal muscle atrophy effects of LE and the underlying molecular mechanism. C2C12 myotubes were pretreated with LE or shikonin, and active component of LE, for 24 h and then treated with 500 μM palmitic acid (PA) for an additional 24 h. Additionally, mice were fed a HFD for 8 weeks to induced obesity, and then fed either the same diet or a version containing 0.25% LE for 10 weeks. LE attenuated PA-induced myotubes atrophy in differentiated C2C12 myotubes. The supplementation of LE to obese mice significantly increased skeletal muscle weight, lean body mass, muscle strength, and exercise performance compared with those in the HFD group. LE supplementation not only suppressed obesity-induced skeletal muscle lipid accumulation, but also downregulated TNF-α and atrophic genes. LE increased protein synthesis in the skeletal muscle via the mTOR pathway. We observed LE induced increase of mitochondrial biogenesis and upregulation of oxidative phosphorylation related genes in the skeletal muscles. Furthermore, LE increased the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1 alpha and the phosphorylation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase. Collectively, LE may be useful in ameliorating the detrimental effects of obesity-induced skeletal muscle atrophy through the increase of protein synthesis and mitochondrial biogenesis of skeletal muscle.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.85-95
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• 2024

Objectives : We proposed the hypothesis that administering Trigonella foenum-graecum seed extract (TSE) could alleviate menopausal symptoms and osteoporosis resulting from estrogen deficiency. Methods : Ovariectomized (OVX) rats were administered TSE at doses of 300 or 600 mg/kg body weight for 8 weeks, followed by measurement of serum lipid profile and serum bone markers using ELISA kits. Additionally, analysis of related genes in the femur and uterus was performed using Western blot and real-time PCR. Additionally, micro-CT analysis was performed to investigate the protective effect of TSE against bone loss due to oophorectomy. Results : The administration of TSE led to significant reductions in triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and glucose levels in the serum of OVX rats. Furthermore, TSE increased estradiol levels in the serum and notably improved the levels of biochemical markers associated with bone metabolism. Additionally, TSE exerted significant regulatory effects on the mRNA levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL)-genes closely associated with bone metabolism in the femur. TSE also demonstrated pronounced effects on uterine tissue, with improvements observed in gene expression related to estrogen receptors. Conclusion : Our findings confirm the efficacy of TSE in ameliorating menopause symptoms by modulating elements associated with both bone and lipid metabolism in the serum, uterine tissue, and femur of OVX rats. The present findings suggest that TSE may offer potential therapeutic effects for symptoms related to menopause and osteoporosis in females.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.1483-1490
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• 2019

Objective: To explore the molecular mechanisms of fat metabolism and deposition in pigs, an experiment was conducted to identify hepatic mRNAs and miRNAs expression and determine the potential interaction of them in two phenotypically extreme pig breeds. Methods: mRNA and miRNA profiling of liver from 70-day Jinhua (JH) and Landrace (LD) pigs were performed using RNA sequencing. Blood samples were taken to detect results of serum biochemistry. Bioinformatics analysis were applied to construct differentially expressed miRNA-mRNA network. Results: Serum total triiodothyronine and total thyroxine were significantly lower in Jinhua pigs, but the content of serum total cholesterol (TCH) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were strikingly higher. A total of 467 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 35 differentially expressed miRNAs (DE miRNAs) were identified between JH and LD groups. Gene ontology analysis suggested that DEGs were involved in oxidation-reduction, lipid biosynthetic and lipid metabolism process. Interaction network of DEGs and DE miRNAs were constructed, according to target prediction results. Conclusion: We generated transcriptome and miRNAome profiles of liver from JH and LD pig breeds which represent distinguishing phenotypes of growth and metabolism. The potential miRNA-mRNA interaction networks may provide a comprehensive understanding in the mechanism of lipid metabolism. These results serve as a basis for further investigation on biological functions of miRNAs in the porcine liver.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.14-32
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma co-activator-1α (PGC-1α) has a central role in regulating muscle differentiation and mitochondrial metabolism. PGC-1α stimulates muscle growth and muscle fiber remodeling, concomitantly regulating lactate and lipid metabolism and promoting oxidative metabolism. Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thumb.) has been widely employed as a traditional herbal medicine and possesses antioxidant, anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, hypolipemic, hypoglycemic, and anticancer properties. We investigated whether G. pentaphyllum extract (GPE) and its active compound, gypenoside L (GL), affect muscle differentiation and mitochondrial metabolism via activation of the PGC-1α pathway in murine C2C12 myoblast cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: C2C12 cells were treated with GPE and GL, and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot were used to analyze the mRNA and protein expression levels. Myh1 was determined using immunocytochemistry. Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species generation was measured using the 2'7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate assay. RESULTS: GPE and GL promoted the differentiation of myoblasts into myotubes and elevated mRNA and protein expression levels of Myh1 (type IIx). GPE and GL also significantly increased the mRNA expression levels of the PGC-1α gene (Ppargc1a), lactate metabolism-regulatory genes (Esrra and Mct1), adipocyte-browning gene fibronectin type III domain-containing 5 gene (Fndc5), glycogen synthase gene (Gys), and lipid metabolism gene carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1b gene (Cpt1b). Moreover, GPE and GL induced the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase, p38, sirtuin1, and deacetylated PGC-1α. We also observed that treatment with GPE and GL significantly stimulated the expression of genes associated with the anti-oxidative stress response, such as Ucp2, Ucp3, Nrf2, and Sod2. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that GPE and GL enhance exercise performance by promoting myotube differentiation and mitochondrial metabolism through the upregulation of PGC-1α in C2C12 skeletal muscle.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.686-695
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• 2018

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary choline supplementation on hepatic lipid metabolism and gene expression in finishing pigs with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). Methods: Using a $2{\times}2$ factorial design, eight normal birth weight (NBW) and eight IUGR weaned pigs were fed either a basal diet (NBW pigs fed a basal diet, NC; IUGR pigs fed a basal diet, IC) or a diet supplemented with two times more choline than the basal diet (NBW pigs fed a high-choline diet, NH; IUGR pigs fed a high-choline diet, IH) until 200 d of age. Results: The results showed that the IUGR pigs had reduced body weight compared with the NBW pigs (p<0.05 from birth to d 120; p = 0.07 from d 120 to 200). Increased (p<0.05) free fatty acid (FFA) and triglyceride levels were observed in the IUGR pigs compared with the NBW pigs. Choline supplementation decreased (p<0.05) the levels of FFAs and triglycerides in the serum of the pigs. The activities of malate dehydrogenase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase were both increased (p<0.05) in the livers of the IUGR pigs. Choline supplementation decreased (p<0.05) malate dehydrogenase activity in the liver of the pigs. Gene expression of fatty acid synthase (FAS) was higher (p<0.05) in the IC group than in the other groups, and choline supplementation decreased (p<0.05) FAS and acetyl-CoA carboxylase ${\alpha}$ expression in the livers of the IUGR pigs. The expression of carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1A (CPT1A) was lower (p<0.05) in the IC group than in the other groups, and choline supplementation increased (p<0.05) the expression of CPT1A in the liver of the IUGR pigs and decreased (p<0.01) the expression of hormone-sensitive lipase in both types of pigs. The gene expression of phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PEMT) was higher (p<0.05) in the IC group than in the other groups, and choline supplementation significantly reduced (p<0.05) PEMT expression in the liver of the IUGR pigs. Conclusion: In conclusion, the lipid metabolism was abnormal in IUGR pigs, but the IUGR pigs consuming twice the normal level of choline had improved circulating lipid parameters, which could be related to the decreased activity of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-generating enzymes or the altered expressions of lipid metabolism-related genes.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.3_spc
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• pp.393-404
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• 2021

Objective: This study compared the catechin composition of different tea byproducts and investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with green tea byproducts on the accumulation of abdominal fat, the modulation of lipid metabolism, and the inflammatory response in red feather native chickens. Methods: Bioactive compounds were detected, and in vitro anti-obesity capacity analyzed via 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. In animal experiments, 320 one-day-old red feather native chickens were divided into 4 treatment groups: control, basal diet supplemented with 0.5% Jinxuan byproduct (JBP), basal diet supplemented with 1% JBP, or basal diet supplemented with 5×106 colony-forming unit (CFU)/kg Bacillus amyloliquefaciens+5×106 CFU/kg Saccharomyces cerevisiae (BA+SC). Growth performance, serum characteristics, carcass characteristics, and the mRNA expression of selected genes were measured. Results: This study compared several cultivars of tea, but Jinxuan showed the highest levels of the anti-obesity compound epigallocatechin gallate. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes treated with Jinxuan extract significantly reduced lipid accumulation. There were no significant differences in growth performance, serum characteristics, or carcass characteristics among the groups. However, in the 0.5% JBP group, mRNA expression of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) were significantly decreased. In the 1% JBP group, FAS, ACC and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ levels were significantly decreased. Moreover, inflammation-related mRNA expression levels were decreased by the addition of JBP. Conclusion: JBP contained abundant catechins and related bioactive compounds, which reduced lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, however there was no significant reduction in abdominal fat. This may be due to a lack of active anti-obesity compounds or because the major changes in fat metabolism were not in the abdomen. Nonetheless, lipogenesis-related and inflammation-related mRNA expression were reduced in the 1% JBP group. In addition, dietary supplementation with tea byproducts could reduce the massive amount of byproducts created during tea production and modulate lipid metabolism and the inflammatory response in chickens.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.3_spc
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• pp.385-392
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• 2021

Objective: The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of lycopene on growth performance, abdominal fat deposition, serum lipids levels, activities of hepatic lipid metabolism related enzymes and genes expression in broiler chickens. Methods: A total of 256 healthy one-day-old male Arbor Acres broiler chicks were randomly divided into four groups with eight replicates of eight birds each. Birds were fed basal diet supplemented with 0 (control), 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg lycopene, respectively. Results: Dietary 100 mg/kg lycopene increased the body weight at 21 day of age compared to the control group (p<0.05). Compared to the basal diet, broilers fed diet with 100 mg/kg lycopene had decreased abdominal fat weight, and broilers fed diet with 100 and 200 mg/kg lycopene had decreased abdominal fat percentage (p<0.05). Compared to control, diets with 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg lycopene reduced the levels of total triglyceride and total cholesterol in serum, and diets with 100 and 200 mg/kg lycopene reduced the level of serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol (p<0.05). The activity of fatty acid synthase (FAS) in 400 mg/kg lycopene treated broilers and the activity of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) in 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg lycopene treated broilers were lower than those fed basal diet (p<0.05). Lycopene increased the mRNA abundance of adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase α (AMPK-α), whereas decreased the mRNA abundance of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1, FAS, and ACC compared to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Dietary lycopene supplementation can alleviate abdominal fat deposition and decrease serum lipids levels, possibly through activating the AMPK signaling pathway, thereby regulating lipid metabolism such as lipogenesis. Therefore, lycopene or lycopene-rich plant materials might be added to poultry feed to regulate lipid metabolism.