Horm Metab Res 2013; 45(04): 283-290
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1329964
Original Basic
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Ovariectomy Stimulates Hepatic Fat and Cholesterol Accumulation in High-fat Diet-fed Rats

E. T. Ngo Sock
1   Department of Kinesiology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
,
I. Côté
1   Department of Kinesiology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
,
J. S. Mentor
1   Department of Kinesiology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
,
D. Prud’homme
2   Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
,
R. Bergeron
1   Department of Kinesiology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
,
J.-M. Lavoie
1   Department of Kinesiology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 14 June 2012

accepted 15 October 2012

Publication Date:
07 December 2012 (online)

Abstract

This study was designed to determine how estrogens withdrawal during a high-fat (HF) diet regimen affects liver triacylglycerol (TAG) and cholesterol accumulation. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were submitted to a HF (42% energy as fat) or a standard (SD) diet for 6 weeks before being either ovariectomized (Ovx) or sham operated (Sham). Thereafter, Ovx and Sham rats were kept on the same diet for another 6 weeks leading to euthanasia. Liver TAG content was increased (p<0.01) in Ovx rats but not by the HF diet alone. However, the combination of HF diet and Ovx resulted in a greater liver TAG accumulation (p<0.06) than that observed in Ovx-SD/SD. Measurement of molecular markers of liver lipid metabolism revealed an increase in transcripts of markers of lipid oxidation (CPT-1 and PGC1; p<0.05) in rats fed the HF diet. This increase was, however, substantially less if HF fed rats were Ovx. Liver total cholesterol levels were increased (p<0.01) only in the Ovx-HF/HF rats while plasma cholesterol levels were increased in Ovx-SD/SD and in SHAM-HF/HF and Ovx-HF/HF rats. Transcripts of molecular markers of cholesterol metabolism suggest that biliary acids synthesis (CYP7a-1) was reduced in Ovx-SD/SD and Sham-HF/HF rats and even more so in Ovx-HF/HF rats. It is concluded that the effects of a HF diet on liver TAG accumulation are especially observed in Ovx rats possibly through a reduction in hepatic lipid oxidation. The combination of Ovx and HF diet also acts synergistically to favor liver cholesterol accumulation.

Supporting Information

 
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