Meeting Abstract
This study is part of a project to develop a model for pediatric non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) using leptin resistant neonate pigs. NAFLD is characterized by a build up of lipids in the liver related to insulin insensitivity. In the skeletal muscles of humans, rats, and pigs, insulin insensitivity is known to be accompanied by an increase in intramuscular fat, both between muscle cells and inside the cells. Since skeletal muscle normally uses the greatest proportion of the body’s dietary lipids, this build up indicates that lipids are being stored instead of oxidized, leading to further build up in other places. The purpose of this experiment was to quantify the lipid accumulation in muscle of high-fat fed pigs compared to control animals and to assess changes in muscle fiber composition in response to the diet. 10 day old piglets were allocated to either control or high-fructose high-fat diet for 10 consecutive weeks. On week 10 animals were euthanized and longissimus dorsi, gastrocnemius and soleus were collected for histology and immunohistochemistry analysis. Tissue sections were stained for lipid with the oil red O stain. Lipid deposition was analyzed based on stain intensity, number of cells stained, and extracellular lipid deposit areas. The results are discussed in the larger context of previous research and the overall project. Funding from ARI#58873, STRIDE#35466
