[Roles of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in obesity induced by high fat diet].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the roles of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and its downstream NADPH oxidase (NOX) in obesity induced by high fat diet.

METHODS

40 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a high fat diet group (30 rats) and a control group (10 rats) fed with rat chow. After six weeks, rats fed with high fat diet were screened out obesity-prone group and obesity-resistant group based on the gain of body weight, obesity-prone group and obesity-resistant group rats continued to be fed with high fat diet. Basic diet group served as normal control. All rats were killed after 13 weeks. Biochemical markers and G6PD activity were determined in adipose tissues. The expression of G6PD and the NOX subunit of P22 gene were detected using RT-PCR.

RESULTS

Blood glucose levels were higher in obesity-prone group rats than those in control rats (P<0.05). Triglyceride levels and body fat contents were significantly higher in OP rats than that in obesity-resistant group rats (P<0.05). Insulin, insulin resistant index, body weight were significantly higher in obesity-prone group rats than that in control and obesity-resistant group rats (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the control and obesity-resistant group rats. The activity and expression of G6PD in the obesity-prone group rats were lower than those in the control and obesity-resistant group rats (P<0.05). The expression of P22 subunit in the obesity-prone group rats was significantly higher than that in the control and obesity-resistant group rats (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between the control and OR rats.

CONCLUSIONS

G6PD and its downsream NAPDH oxidase may play an important role in the pathogenesis and development of obesity.