Aims: To determine the effects of food restriction (FR) on the expression of Sirt1 and its down-stream factors related to lipid and glucose metabolism in obese and hypertensive rats (SHRSP/IDmcr-fa), as a model of human metabolic syndrome.
Main methods: Male, 10-week-old SHRSP/IDmcr-fa rats were treated with 85% FR for 2 weeks. Metabolic parameters, serum adipocytokines and distribution of serum adiponectin multimers were investigated. Sirt1 expression was determined in epididymal adipose tissue, liver and skeletal muscle. We also determined the expression of PPAR alpha, gamma and other adipocyte-related genes in epididymal adipose tissue, and glucose transporters (GLUT2 and GLUT4) in the liver and skeletal muscle.
Key findings: FR improved the general conditions as well as blood chemistry of SHRSP/IDmcr-fa rats. In the epididymal adipose tissue of the FR rats, Sirt1 expression was enhanced, as was adiponectin, whereas leptin was downregulation, findings that were paralleled by the serum protein levels. Furthermore, the serum ratio of high to total adiponectin was increased in the FR group. The mRNA expression of Sirt1 was upregulated in the adipose tissue in the FR group. Sirt1 mRNA expression was downregulated, while PPAR alpha and GLUT2 expression was enhanced in the liver. No differences were found in terms of Sirt1, PPAR or GLUM expression in skeletal muscle.
Significance: These results indicate that FR corrects adipokine dysfunction by activating PPAR gamma via Sirt1 in adipose tissue. Furthermore, glucose and lipid metabolism are activated by upregulation of GLUT2 via the activation of PPAR alpha in the liver. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.