Effects of ovariectomy and hyperlipidemic diets on insulin signaling of adipose tissue and liver of rats

• Grant number: 12/07249-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2012
• End date: May 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - General Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Eliane Beraldi Ribeiro
• Grantee: Graziele Costa Santos
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Menopause is a mark in women’s life, with important endocrine changes, particularly those related to the modifications of estrogen levels. Estrogen is a steroid hormone made by ovarian follicles, associated to many important processes, such as inhibition of abdominal fat deposition, osteoclast function. Abnormal levels of estrogen and/or receptor activity are involved in development of insulin resistance. Insulin is a polypeptide hormone that plays a key role in macronutrients metabolism; its activity depends on binding to insulin receptor, a tirosin-kinase protein that auto-phosphorilates after hormone binding, triggering signaling cascade. The aim of this project is to evaluate the possible changing in signaling pathway of insulin on adipose tissue and liver caused by hyperlipidemic diets enriched with either saturated or polyunsaturated (n-3) fats in ovariectomized rats. (AU)