Effect of high-fat diet on body mass and energy balance in the bank vole

doi:10.1016/S0031-9384(01)00533-9

Physiology & Behavior

Volume 74, Issues 1–2, 1–15 September 2001, Pages 65-70

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9384(01)00533-9 Get rights and content

Abstract

We tested the hypothesis that animals that reduce their body mass in response to decreased photoperiod do not develop diet-induced obesity (DIO) when fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) fed a diet with fat content of 13.5% by mass and 28.2% by energy, for 5 weeks, did not develop hyperphagia and were resistant to DIO, consistent with predictions. There was no significant difference between food (g/day) or energy intake (kJ/day) between the experimental or control group (fed a standard diet with fat content of 5.4% by mass and 12.3% by energy) over the duration of the experiment. However, as a result of a higher apparent energy assimilation efficiency (AEAE), voles fed the HFD assimilated significantly more energy over the 5-week period. Furthermore, they consumed twice as much fat per day as controls. There were no significant differences in resting metabolic rate (RMR) over time or between groups over the 5-week period. In conclusion, bank voles achieved resistance to DIO despite assimilating more energy than control animals fed the standard diet and taking in twice as much fat. Resistance did not occur by modification of RMR, implicating differences in activity levels.

Introduction

It has been suggested that animals that display different strategies in seasonal variation in fat deposition also show contrasting responses to a high-fat diet (HFD) [1]. Those species that increase their body or fat mass in response to a decrease in photoperiod (e.g., the collared lemming, Dicrostonyx groenlandicus [2], and the Syrian hamster, Mesocricetus auratus [3]) also develop diet-induced obesity (DIO) when fed an HFD [3]. Conversely, species that exhibit a decrease in body or fat mass in response to short day lengths (e.g., Shaw's jird, Meriones shawi and the Siberian hamster, Phodopus sungorus sungorus) do not appear prone to obesity when fed an HFD [1], [4].

The mechanisms involved in body mass responses to photoperiod and diet in seasonal rodents are relatively unexplored in species other than the Siberian and Syrian hamster. The reduction in body mass in response to decreased photoperiod of at least two rodent species precedes or is not dependent on a reduction in food intake [5], [6]. Furthermore, when fed a diet high in fat, Syrian hamsters develop obesity without a corresponding increase in food intake [7] and conversely Siberian hamsters develop hyperphagia with no gain in body mass [4]. These observations suggest that changes in energy expenditure rather than energy intake may be of primary importance in the regulation of body mass and fat balance in the seasonal responses of these animals.

Variation in resting metabolic rate (RMR), a major component of total energy expenditure, may be important in the regulation of energy balance in response to changes in diet or photoperiod [2], [5]. The aim of our experiment was to determine the effects of an HFD on the body composition, food intake, RMR, and apparent energy assimilation efficiency (AEAE) of bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus). This species exhibits a decrease in body mass in response to a decrease in photoperiod [8] and were, therefore, expected not to develop DIO in response to an HFD. In addition, we hypothesised that resistance to obesity would involve adjustments of RMR, or some other component of energy expenditure rather than, or instead of, a decrease in food intake.

Section snippets

Animals

Thirty-nine bank voles (20 males, 19 females) aged 3–5 months were selected from a laboratory breeding colony, which were maintained in a 12L:12D photoperiod at an ambient temperature of 20±2°C. From weaning, voles were kept in single-sex cages of 4–6 individuals and supplied pelleted Rodent Maintenance Diet 3 (RM3 — Special Diets Services) and water ad libitum. One week before the preexperimental measurements were measured, voles were separated, housed individually in cages (28×11×12 cm), and

Results

There was no significant difference between the experimental and control groups in any preexperimental variables measured (body mass: t=−0.05, P=.96; food intake: t=−0.72, P=.48; RMR: t=−0.57, P=.58; fat mass: t=0.03, P=.97). Furthermore, there were no significant differences between male and females for any trait; therefore, data was pooled across the sexes.

Discussion

The purpose of this study was to establish whether bank voles are resistant to DIO when fed an HFD and to address the role of RMR, a component of energy expenditure, in this resistance. As expected, bank voles did not develop obesity when fed an HFD. An unexpected result was that after an initial decrease in mass by both groups, the control animals regained their mass to their original value whereas the group fed the HFD maintained their body and fat mass relatively constant at the reduced

Acknowledgements

We thank the animal house staff at the Department of Zoology, University of Aberdeen for their help in the caretaking of the animals. In addition, we thank Mr. P. Dewey and Mrs. C. Horrocks at the Rowett Research Institute for their help with the food and faecal sample analysis. This work was carried out with the support of a BBSRC studentship.

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View full text

Effect of high-fat diet on body mass and energy balance in the bank vole

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Animals

Results

Discussion

Acknowledgements

Physiol Behav

Neurosci Biobehav Rev

Physiol Behav

Physiol Behav

J Nutr

J Nutr

Am J Clin Nutr

Am J Clin Nutr

Am J Clin Nutr

Am J Clin Nutr

Nutrition

Comp Biochem Physiol, C

Energy acquisition and allocation in male collared lemmings (Dicrostonyx groenlandicus): effects of photoperiod, temperature and diet quality

Physiol Zool

Photoperiodic control of body weight and energy metabolism in Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus): role of the pineal gland, melatonin, gonads, and diet

Endocrinology

Effects of diet and photoperiod on NE turnover and GDP binding in Siberian hamster brown adipose tissue

Am J Physiol