Protein malnutrition mitigates the effects of a high-fat diet on glucose homeostasis in mice

Author(s)

Souto Branco, Renato Chaves ^[1] ; Camargo, Rafael Ludemann ^[1] ; Batista, Thiago Martins ^[1] ; Vettorazzi, Jean Franciesco ^[1] ; Lubaczeuski, Camila ^[1] ; Montes Bomfim, Lucas Henrique ^[1] ; Silveira, Leonardo Reis ^[1] ; Boschero, Antonio Carlos ^[1] ; Zoppi, Claudio Cesar ^[1] ; Carneiro, Everardo Magalhaes ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Campinas UNICAMP, Inst Biol, Dept Struct & Funct Biol, OCRC, Carl Von Linaeus St 2-238, Cidade Univ, BR-13083970 Campinas, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Journal of Cellular Physiology; v. 234, n. 5, p. 6313-6323, MAY 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Nutrient malnutrition, during the early stages of development, may facilitate the onset of metabolic diseases later in life. However, the consequences of nutritional insults, such as a high-fat diet (HFD) after protein restriction, are still controversial. We assessed overall glucose homeostasis and molecular markers of mitochondrial function in the gastrocnemius muscle of protein-restricted mice fed an HFD until early adulthood. Male C57BL/6 mice were fed a control (14% protein-control diet) or a protein-restricted (6% protein-restricted diet) diet for 6 weeks. Afterward, mice received an HFD or not for 8 weeks (mice fed a control diet and HFD {[}CH] and mice fed a protein-restricted diet and HFD {[}RH]). RH mice showed lower weight gain and fat accumulation and did not show an increase in fasting plasma glucose and insulin levels compared with CH mice. RH mice showed higher energy expenditure, increased citrate synthase, peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha protein content, and higher levels of malate and alpha-ketoglutarate compared with CH mice. Moreover, RH mice showed increased AMPc-dependent kinase and acetyl coenzyme-A (CoA) carboxylase phosphorylation, lower intramuscular triacylglycerol content, and similar malonyl-CoA levels. In conclusion, protein undernourishment after weaning does not potentiate fat accumulation and insulin resistance in adult young mice fed an HFD. This outcome seems to be associated with increased skeletal muscle mitochondrial oxidative capacity and reduced lipids accumulation. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/24289-8 - The role of pyruvate carboxylase on insulin sensitivity of skeletal muscle cells line of mice submitted to aminoacids deprivation: Involviment of ACILCARNITINES
• Grantee: Renato Chaves Souto Branco
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral