Endocrine Abstracts

A new genetic animal model of type 2 diabetes, the Tsumura Suzuki Obese Diabetes (TSOD) mouse, has been developed in 1999. The TSOD mouse develops a moderate degree of obesity and diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential association of impairment of lipolysis and lipid metabolism on the development of obesity and diabetes in TSOD mice.

Methods: Three month old TSOD and the age-matched control (TSNO: Tsumura Suzuki Non-Obesity) male mice were obtained from The Institute for Animal Reproduction (Ibaraki, Japan). Serum glucose, total cholesterol (T-Cho), triglycerides (TG) and insulin were measured. Adipose tissues were removed and extracted lipids by acetone. Extracted lipids were analyzed by TLC and LC-MS. The expressions of mRNA of adipose tissue glycerol lipase (ATGL), hormone sensitive lipase (HSL), adipose phospholipase A2 (AdLPA2) and perilipin in epididymal adipose tissue were also measured by real-time PCR.

Results: Serum levels of glucose, TG and insulin were significantly elevated in TSOD mice than those of TSNO. Clear spot corresponding to diacylglycerol (DG) was observed in the sample from TSOD but not from TSNO by TLC. Ratio of total DG levels against total TG ones in TSOD mice were higher than those in TSNO by LC-MS. Expression of ATGL, HSL and perilipin was lower in TSOD than that in TSNO. However, mRNA expression of AdPLA2 in TAOD was significantly higher than that in TSNO.

Conclusion: Dysregulation of lipolysis and lipid metabolism in adipose tissue contribute in part to the development of obesity and diabetes in TSOD mice.

Declaration of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project.

Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.