Profile evaluation of genes involved in insulin and leptin signaling in the hypothalamus of obese mice treated with green tea

• Grant number: 15/16114-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2015
• End date: October 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - General Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Rosemari Otton
• Grantee: Maíra Silva Santos
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde. Universidade Cruzeiro do Sul (UNICSUL). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Obesity is considered a major public health problem, being classified as a global epidemic with unclear etiology. It can be defined by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue as a result of imbalance of body energy balance where the intake ends up being greater than the expense. Obesity is a major cause for the development of debilitating diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and hepatic non-alcoholic steatosis. The homeostatic control of body energy balance is under control by specific populations of neurons located, for the most part, in the hypothalamus. The main hormones that act in the control of energy balance are leptin and insulin through a signaling cascade bind to specific receptors. Green tea (Camellia sinensis) keeps preserved its polyphenol content and makes it richer in catechins than other teas produced from this plant. This study aims to assess the profile of genes involved in leptin and insulin signaling in the hypothalamus of obese mice treated with green tea. In this study we will use C57BL/6 mice, which receive food and water ad libitum for a total period of 16 weeks (4 months). From 4 weeks of high fat diet, the animals will be treated with aqueous green tea extract (500mg / kg body weight) by gavage to the end of the trial period. The animals will be supplemented daily (Monday to Friday). After this period, the animals will be euthanized by decapitation and the hypothalamus of the animals will be removed. We will perform in the hypothalamus the evaluation by qPCR of gene expression of ObRb, POMC, NPY, AgRP, SOCS3, IR, IRS2, TLR4, JAK2 and STAT3.