Meeting Abstract

P3-18  Monday, Jan. 6  Dioxin-induced steatosis and liver toxicity is enhanced by a ketogenic diet FRITZ, T*; BROGREN, D; BURLEY, A; HOLIHAN, M; GRAHAM, M; CHRYSLER, J; SCOTT, J; Saginaw Valley State University, University Center, MI; Saginaw Valley State University, University Center, MI; Saginaw Valley State University, University Center, MI; Saginaw Valley State University, University Center, MI; Saginaw Valley State University, University Center, MI; Saginaw Valley State University, University Center, MI; Saginaw Valley State University, University Center, MI jascott1@svsu.edu

Macronutrient changes in the diet correlate with an increased risk of several diseases; however, we are also invariably ingesting environmental contaminants along with it, and these have the potential to modify the effects of diet. Exposure to some lipophilic contaminants alone (e.g., dioxins), have been shown to produce similar physiological effects as a high fat diet. To investigate the influence of lipophilic contaminants on dietary changes in the liver, mice were exposed to both low fat and ketogenic diets in the presence or absence of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) for 4 weeks. The preliminary results suggest that there were no significant changes in body and ependymal fat pad weights, although a trend of an increase in weights was observed in ketogenic diet and ketogenic diet + TCDD mice. Liver histology confirmed that both TCDD and ketogenic diets induce steatosis in liver. The most dramatic increase in steatosis and hepatic morphology was observed in ketogenic diet + TCDD mice, which correlated with a significant increase in liver weights in these mice. Gene analyses data suggested that lowering carbohydrates and increasing dietary fat (ketogenic diet) significantly increased expression of genes involved in cholestasis and xenobiotic/drug metabolism. TCDD altered the expression genes involved in xenobiotic metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, cholestasis; however, expression was more pronounced in mice on a ketogenic diet.