Characteristics of expression of energy metabolism-related transcription factors in the liver of ob/ob mice

Abstract:

Objective：To examine the mRNA expression characteristics of hepatic energy metabolism-related transcription factors：peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ coactivator-1α（PGC-1α），peroxisome proliferator activated receptor α （PPARα） and nuclear respiratory factor 1（NRF1） in ob/ob mice. Methods：Male ob/ob obese mice on a C57BL/6J genetic background were used as obese model（n=8） and normal male C56BL/6J mice as control（n=8）. At the age of 5 months，liver samples were obtained after sacri－ficing. Liver morphologic analysis was performed by HE staining and macrohoages were stained by immunohistochmistry method us－ing F4/80 antibody. RT-PCR was performed to determine the mRNA expression levels of interested genes. Results：Both body weight and liver weight of the ob/ob mice were higher than those of control group（t=9.66，P=0.000；t=9.98，P=0.000）. In the ob/ob group，HE showed lipid accumulation. Immunohistochmistry staining for F4/80 results showed more severe inflammatory cell infiltration in ob/ob group. Compared with those in control group，PGC-1α，PPARα，NRF1 mRNA expression levels increased significantly（t=3.02，P=0.009；t=5.64，P=0.000；t=2.93，P=0.011）. Conclusion：The ob/ob mice are obese than normal controls. There are significant hepatic lipid accumulation and inflammatory cell infiltration in the livers of ob/ob mice，which may related with the increased expressions of PGC-1α，PPARα and NRF1.