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Effects of fasting on temporal variations in nephrotoxicity of gentamicin in rats.

Evidence for temporal variations in the nephrotoxicity of low doses of aminoglycosides were recently shown by using specific and sensitive parameters of renal toxicity. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a short period of fasting on the temporal variations in the renal toxicity of gentamicin. Twenty-eight normally fed (i.e., food and water were available ad libitum throughout the experiment) female Sprague-Dawley rats (weight, 175 to 220 g) and 28 fasted rats (i.e., only water was available during a 12-h fast before and a 24-h fast after gentamicin injection) were used. The animals were synchronized on a 14-h light, 10-h dark cycle (lights on at 0600 h) for 1 week before gentamicin administration. In July 1993, each group of animals was treated with a single intraperitoneal injection of saline (NaCl, 0.9%) or gentamicin (150 mg/kg of body weight) at either the peak (1400 h) or the trough (0200 h) of the previously determined toxicity. On day 1, the 24-h urinary excretion of beta-galactosidase, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase, and gamma-glutamyltransferase was significantly higher in normally fed animals treated with gentamicin at 1400 h than in their time-matched controls and in normally fed animals treated at 0200 h (P < 0.01), which had normal levels of these enzymes. By contrast, the urinary excretion of these enzymes was significantly higher in both groups of gentamicin-treated, fasted rats than in their time-matched control groups (P < 0.01), reaching levels similar to those measured in normally fed rats treated at 1400 h. The accumulation of gentamicin was significantly lower in the renal cortex of normally fed rats treated at 0200 h than in rats treated at 1400 h (P < 0.05), but this time-dependent difference was not found in fasted rats treated at 0200 and 1400 h. Immunogold labeling done on ultrathin sections and observed by electron microscopy showed a similar subcellular localization of gentamicin in normally fed and fasted rats treated at either 1400 or 0200 h. These results suggest that the feeding period is of crucial importance in the temporal variations of the nephrotoxicity of gentamicin in rats.

Animals↗

Neutrophil functions and clinical performance after total fasting in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

The effects of fasting for 7 days were investigated in 13 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in comparison with a control regimen in a cross-over trial. The effects of fasting on clinical performance and blood neutrophil functions were studied. During fasting, with a mean weight loss of 5.1 kg, clinical inflammation in the joints and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) decreased. During the control period the joints either remained unchanged or deteriorated, and no change was observed in the body weight or the ESR. The locomotion of neutrophils under agarose, induced by a reference serum, decreased during the fasting period (p less than 0.001), but no change in their locomotion was induced by an Escherichia coli bacterial factor. During the control period, however, the locomotion induced by either stimulant was significantly decreased. Generation of migration-stimulating factors from the patients' plasma declined 3 days after the end of fasting (p less than 0.001). The adherence of the neutrophils to nylon fibres was unchanged during both periods. The bactericidal capacity improved during fasting, both in comparison with the initial value (p less than 0.005) and with the values from the control period (p less than 0.001). An association was found between improvement in inflammatory activity of the joints and enhancement of neutrophil bactericidal capacity. Fasting appears to improve the clinical status of patients with RA. This could partly be due to the observed changes in the functions of the neutrophils, since the latter contribute to the inflammatory joint reactions.

Adult↗

Correlation between gall bladder fasting volume and postprandial emptying in patients with gall stones and healthy controls.

To evaluate whether the extent of postprandial gall bladder emptying is correlated with gall bladder fasting volume, gall bladder motility was studied in 56 patients with cholesterol gall stone and 19 control patients. Gall bladder volumes were determined sonographically, while cholecystokinin plasma values were measured radioimmunologically. Twenty three per cent of gall stone patients were classified as pathological contractors (residual fraction > mean +2SD of controls) and 77% as normal contractors. Normal but not pathological contractor patients exhibited larger gall bladder fasting volumes (mean (SEM)) (24.7 (1.7) ml) than controls (15.3 (1.2) ml, p < 0.001). In normal contractor patients and controls fasting volume was closely related with ejection volume (r = 0.97, p < 0.001) and residual volume (r = 0.80, p < 0.001). Although ejection volume was enlarged in normal contractor patients it did not compensate the increase in fasting volume. Thus, residual volumes were considerably increased not only in pathological contractors (12.7 (2.5) ml, p < 0.001) but also in normal contractor patients (7.0 (0.5) v 4.6 (0.6) ml, p < 0.001). Postprandial cholecystokinin secretion did not differ between patients and controls. It is concluded, that in normal contractor patients gall bladder fasting volume is closely correlated with ejection and residual volume. Thus, fasting volume may be an essential factor affecting postprandial gall bladder emptying. Large fasting volumes in cholesterol gall stone disease could thereby contribute to bile retention, which facilitates gall stone growth.

Adult↗

Helicobacter pylori infection and fasting plasma glucose concentration.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori infection raises basal and meal stimulated serum gastrin concentrations and lowers iron stores, which may in turn reduce fasting plasma glucose concentrations in the population. AIM: To determine whether H pylori infection leads to lower fasting plasma glucose concentrations in the population. METHODS: One hundred and seventy three women and 165 men, randomly selected from the electoral rolls of an Australian city, participated in a cardiovascular risk factor survey. Plasma glucose concentrations and H pylori IgG antibody titres were measured. Non-fasting subjects and pregnant women were excluded, as were known diabetics, whose plasma glucose concentrations would be affected by diet and/or medications. Fasting plasma glucose concentrations were logarithmically transformed and the relation with H pylori infection, adjusting for age and other confounding factors, was determined for men and women separately by analyses of variance. RESULTS: Helicobacter pylori infection was significantly associated with fasting plasma glucose concentration among women. Infected women had a lower mean fasting plasma glucose concentration (5.2 mmol/litre; range, 3.9-8.2) than did non-infected women (5.4 mmol/litre; range, 3.9-11.1). CONCLUSIONS: Helicobacter pylori infection may lead to lower fasting plasma glucose concentrations among women and should be considered when interpreting concentrations bordering on diabetes.

Adult↗

Changes in metabolism of ethanolamine and its derivatives in liver during fasting.

The time course of incorporation of radioactivity into liver phosphatidylethanolamine and its precursors was studied following intraportal injection of [1,2-14C]ethanolamine into rats that had been fasted for 24 h and into nonfasted rats. Marked diminution in the labelling of liver phosphatidylethanolamine and CDP-ethanolamine was present in the fasted groups while the radioactivity contained in the ethanolamine and phosphorylethanolamine pools of these livers was increased. The livers of the fasted rats contained significantly higher levels of ethanolamine, phosphorylethanolamine and CDP-ethanolamine while choline and phosphorylcholine were decreased. These changes are identical to those which we have described earlier in the livers of nonfasted rats fed a choline deficient diet. In a further experiment, the duration of the fasting period necessary to bring about these changes was studied. Incorporation of radioactivity into liver phosphatidylethanolamine at 2.5 min following intraportal injection of [1,2-14]ethanolamine declined progressively up to 7.5 h of fasting and did not decrease further after that time. There was a concomitant decrease in labelling of CDP-ethanolamine with retention of radioactivity in ethanolamine and phosphorylethanolamine. These results show that the liver metabolism of ethanolamine is altered quite early in the fasting period and suggest that it may be related in some way to the metabolic response to fasting.

Animals↗

Role of acid proteases in brown adipose tissue atrophy caused by fasting in mice.

The lysosomal proteolytic capacity of mouse brown adipose tissue (BAT) and its role during fasting were evaluated. The specific activities of acid phosphatase and cathepsins B, D, H, and L were measured in BAT of mice acclimated at 33, 21, and 4 degrees C and in BAT undergoing different rates of protein loss during a 24- to 48-h fast. The specific activities of lysosomal proteases in BAT did not vary with the acclimation status of the animals. Mice acclimated at 33 degrees C showed no significant atrophy of BAT after a fast. In mice kept at 21 degrees C, protein loss from BAT was observed after a fast without change in tissue DNA content. Protein loss from BAT was partially reduced by injection of the acidotropic agent chloroquine. Furthermore, tyrosine release from BAT during fasting was also reduced by injections of chloroquine or leupeptin, a thiol-protease inhibitor. Tyrosine release from BAT was maximum within 24 h and returned to prefast values by 36 h, suggesting rapid activation followed by inhibition of the tissue proteolytic activity. However, there was no change in acid protease specific activities, suggesting that these enzymes were not limiting for protein degradation. When cold-acclimated mice were fasted at 21 degrees C, BAT protein loss was markedly enhanced and increases in cathepsin D and L activities were observed, but there was no change in cathepsin B and H and acid phosphatase specific activities. These results indicate that BAT contains an important lysosomal proteolytic pathway that is involved in the rapid reduction of the tissue thermogenic capacity during a fast.

Adipose Tissue, Brown↗

Effects of age and of fasting on the responsiveness of the insulin-secreting mechanism of the islets of Langerhans to glucose.

Insulin responsiveness to glucose of isolated islets of Langerhans was studied in 'younger' and 'older' rats after feeding and fasting for various lengths of time. In 'younger' rats, after prolonged fasting (168 h) the threshold for glucose-stimulated insulin secretion was increased. This was not evident in islets from 'younger' rats fasted for 48 or 89 h. Reductions in increments of insulin secretion with increments in glucose, in the maximum insulin secreted and in the total extractable insulin of the islets were apparent after fasting for 48, 89 and 168 h as compared with islets from fed rats. In 'older' rats, prolonged fasting caused an increase in the threshold for glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, reduced incremental insulin secretion, reduced maximum insulin secretion and reduced total extractable insulin. However, the responses of islets from fed 'older' rats were similar to those of fasted (168 h) 'younger' rats. The threshold levels were similar, and there were no significant differences between increments in insulin secretion, maximum insulin secretion and insulin content of the islets. These experiments show that the responsiveness of islets of Langerhans in rats can be altered by age and fasting.

Aging↗

Effect of fasting on myocardial substrates in male and female rats.

Adult male and female rats were fasted for 1, 2, or 3 days to determine its effect on circulating and endogenous fuels available to the heart. Liver glycogen was depleted within the first 24 h of food restriction. Plasma glucose decreased approximately 2.5 mM in both sexes during the 3 days. Fasting significantly increased plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate to approximately the same level in female and male rats. Plasma free fatty acid (FFA) increased approximately 0.2 mM in both groups during the first 24 h without food and remained elevated over the next 2 days. FFA concentrations were higher in fed female than in fed male rats and remained significantly higher in female rats throughout the experimental period. Myocardial glycogen increased 64% during the first 2 days of fasting in the male rats and stayed elevated on the third day of fasting. In contrast, heart glycogen of female rats remained unchanged from an initial value of 3.13 mg/g throughout the 3-day fasting period. Endogenous triglyceride (TG) of male rats decreased from 2.14 +/- 0.09 to 1.41 +/- 0.21 mumol/g during the first 24 h without food and remained at that level during the second and third days. Heart TG in female rats fell progressively from 2.36 +/- 0.19 to 1.02 +/- 0.12 mumol/g during the fasting period. Cardiac FFA were higher in female than in male animals throughout the entire experiment. These data indicate that quantitative and qualitative metabolic differences exist between male and female rats stressed by fasting.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Activation of glycogen synthase in myocardium induced by intermittent hypoxia is much lower in fasted than in fed rats.

Obstructive sleep apnea is characterized by intermittent obstruction of the upper airway, which leads to intermittent hypoxia. Myocardial glycogen is a major energy resource for heart during hypoxia. Previous studies have demonstrated that intermittent hypoxia rapidly degrades myocardial glycogen and activates glycogen synthase (GS). However, the underlying mechanisms remain undefined. Because sleep apnea/intermittent hypoxia usually happens at night, whether intermittent hypoxia leads to GS activation in the postabsorptive state is not known. In the present study, male adult rats were studied after either an overnight fast or ad libitum feeding with or without intermittent ventilatory arrest (3 90-s periods at 10-min intervals). Hearts were quickly excised and freeze-clamped. Intermittent hypoxia induced a significant decrease in myocardial glycogen content in fed rats and stimulated GS in both fasted and fed rats. However, the portion of GS in the active form increased by approximately 38% in fasted rats compared with a larger, approximately 130% increase in fed rats. The basal G-6-P content was comparable in fasted and fed animals and increased approximately threefold after hypoxia. The basal phosphorylation states of Akt and GSK-3beta and the activity of protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) were comparable between fasted and fed control rats. Hypoxia significantly increased Akt phosphorylation and PP1 activity only in fed rats. In contrast, hypoxia did not induce significant change in GSK-3beta phosphorylation in either fasted or fed rats. We conclude that hypoxia activates GS in fed rat myocardium through a combination of rapid glycogenolysis, elevated local G-6-P content, and increased PP1 activity, and fasting attenuates this action independent of local G-6-P content.

Animals↗

Fetal metabolic response to maternal fasting in the rat.

To determine the fetal response to altered maternal fuel supply, the effects of prolonged maternal fasting, begun 24-96 h before term, were examined and compared with values from normally fed term animals. Fetal weight decreased only after 48 h of maternal fasting. Prolonged maternal fasting was associated with low blood glucose, high blood ketone bodies, and decreased gluconeogenic substrate in the fetus. Plasma insulin was decreased, whereas plasma glucagon was increased in the fetus of fasted mothers. Infusion of [2-3H]glucose into the mother to constant specific activity gave a ratio of maternal to fetal glucose activity of 1.0 in fed and 1.56 in fasted mothers. Fetal liver from fasted mothers showed both increase in activity of key gluconeogenic enzymes (glucose-6-phosphatase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase) and increased conversion in vitro of lactate, alanine, serine, and glycerol in glucose by liver slices. It is inferred that maternal fasting induces fetal substrate alterations and hormonal changes appropriate to premature appearance of hepatic gluconeogenesis. The priority for endogenous fuel provision in this state leads to impaired fetal growth.

Amino Acids↗

Increased leucine flux in short-term fasted human subjects: evidence for increased proteolysis.

Plasma leucine concentration increases with short-term fasting in normal humans. In previous studies using an 18-h constant infusion of [2H3]leucine, a 15% decrease in the rate of appearance (Ra) of leucine was observed between 15 and 30 h of fasting. However, incorporation of labeled leucine into and subsequent release from body protein could result in an apparent decrease in leucine Ra. The present studies were undertaken to determine the rate of leucine N and carbon flux in short-term fasted human subjects in using an experimental design that would minimize potential recycling of label. Six normal subjects were infused with [15N]- and [2H3]leucine for two 4-h periods (0600 to 1000 h and 2000 to 2400 h) during a 30-h fast. Between the 15th and 30th h of fasting, plasma leucine concentration (102 +/- 10 to 169 +/- 18 microM, P less than 0.01) and leucine C (1.46 +/- 0.05 to 1.64 +/- 0.10 mumol X kg-1 X min-1, P less than 0.05) and leucine N (1.93 +/- 0.14 to 2.49 +/- 0.26 mumol X kg-1 X min-1, P less than 0.05) flux increased, whereas the metabolic clearance rates of leucine C and N decreased (P less than 0.01 and less than 0.05, respectively). Therefore, when isotope recycling is minimized with short periods of isotope infusion, leucine flux increases between 15 and 30 h of fasting. Because the only source of leucine in the postabsorptive periods is body protein, we conclude that the rate of whole-body proteolysis is increased in short-term fasting in humans.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Carbohydrate restriction regulates the adaptive response to fasting.

The importance of either carbohydrate or energy restriction in initiating the metabolic response to fasting was studied in five normal volunteers. The subjects participated in two study protocols in a randomized crossover fashion. In one study the subjects fasted for 84 h (control study), and in the other a lipid emulsion was infused daily to meet resting energy requirements during the 84-h oral fast (lipid study). Glycerol and palmitic acid rates of appearance in plasma were determined by infusing [2H5]glycerol and [1-13C]palmitic acid, respectively, after 12 and 84 h of oral fasting. Changes in plasma glucose, free fatty acids, ketone bodies, insulin, and epinephrine concentrations during fasting were the same in both the control and lipid studies. Glycerol and palmitic acid rates of appearance increased by 1.63 +/- 0.42 and 1.41 +/- 0.46 mumol.kg-1.min-1, respectively, during fasting in the control study and by 1.35 +/- 0.41 and 1.43 +/- 0.44 mumol.kg-1.min-1, respectively, in the lipid study. These results demonstrate that restriction of dietary carbohydrate, not the general absence of energy intake itself, is responsible for initiating the metabolic response to short-term fasting.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

14-kDa ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme: structure of the rat gene and regulation upon fasting and by insulin.

Upon fasting, an increase in proteolysis occurs in rat skeletal muscle and is associated with increased levels of ubiquitin-protein conjugates. As this suggests that formation of conjugates may be activated upon fasting, we studied the expression of the gene encoding the 14-kDa ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (E2(14k)). A cDNA encoding rat E2(14k) was isolated and used to probe Northern blots of RNA from extensor digitorum longus muscles of fed, fasted, and refed rats. Two mRNA transcripts of 1.2 and 1.8 kb were observed. Isolation and sequencing of a genomic clone determined that these transcripts arise from differential sites of polyadenylation. The 1.2-kb transcript increased threefold upon fasting at 2 days and returned to normal with refeeding. Northern analysis of RNA from various tissues of fed and fasted rats showed that E2(14k) mRNA was expressed at high levels in testes, moderate levels in muscle, heart, and brain, but low levels in liver and kidney. Upon fasting, increases in mRNA levels were seen in muscle, heart, liver, and kidney. In vitro, in rat L6 myotubes, insulin lowered levels of E2(14k) mRNA. Because E2s catalyze the first irreversible reaction in the pathway and E2(14k) gene expression appears to change in parallel with the changes in levels of ubiquitinated proteins and rates of proteolysis, conjugation mediated by this E2 may be a rate-limiting step in the pathway. This is the first demonstration of direct hormonal regulation of a gene in the ubiquitin system and argues strongly for a role of the ubiquitin system in the metabolic response to fasting in skeletal muscle.

Animals↗

Acetaminophen glucuronidation accurately reflects gluconeogenesis in fasted dogs.

To assess whether acetaminophen glucuronide accurately reflects uridyl diphosphate-glucose (UDP-glucose) derived from gluconeogenesis during fasting, three mongrel dogs received infusions of [U-14C]lactate, [1-13C]galactose, and [6-3H]glucose (after fasting overnight or for 2.5 days). After initiation of the isotopes (3 h), acetaminophen was given, and the urinary acetaminophen glucuronide was isolated. The mean plasma [14C]glucose specific activity (SA) was similar to the mean urinary acetaminophen glucuronide SA both after fasting overnight [299 +/- 19 vs. 296 +/- 14 disintegrations.min-1 (dpm).mumol-1, respectively] and after 2.5 days of fasting (511 +/- 8 vs. 562 +/- 32 dpm/mumol, respectively). Mean plasma glucose flux calculated using [6-3H]glucose decreased (P < 0.05) with two additional days of fasting (18.7 +/- 1.2 vs. 13.6 +/- 0.6 mumol.kg-1.min-1), as did intrahepatic (P < 0.05) UDP-glucose flux measured using [1-13C]galactose (8.6 +/- 0.7 vs. 5.5 +/- 0.3 mumol.kg-1.min-1). We conclude that, in fasted dogs, plasma glucose and UDP-glucose, as sampled by acetaminophen, equally reflect gluconeogenesis and appear to come from the same pool of glucose 6-phosphate. In addition, cycling of glucose moieties through UDP-glucose and glycogen decreases with an increased period of fasting.

Acetaminophen↗

Gluconeogenesis and the Cori cycle in 12-, 20-, and 40-h-fasted humans.

Six subjects were infused with [U-13C]glucose (0.03-0.05 mg . kg-1 . min-1) starting 8-9 h after a meal, and the production of glucose, the recycling of glucose (the Cori cycle), the dilution of glucose by unlabeled carbon into the hepatic lactate-pyruvate pool, and gluconeogenesis were determined in these fasted volunteers by use of mass isotopomer analysis and equations previously described [J. A. Tayek and J. Katz. Am. J. Physiol. 272 (Endocrinol. Metab. 35): E476-E484, 1997]. A primed continuous 11-h infusion was started at 6:00 AM, and the above parameters were calculated after 3 h (for the 12-h fast) and at the end of the infusion (for the 20-h fast). Another group of five subjects was fasted for 40 h, and the above parameters were calculated as before. At 12, 20, and 40 h of fasting, respectively, blood glucose was 93 +/- 2, 83 +/- 2, and 71 +/- 2 (SE) mg/dl; glucose production was 2.3, 1.8, and 1.77 mg . kg-1 . min-1; the recycling of labeled carbon was 8, 15, and 15%, and that of glucose molecules (Cori cycle) was 18, 35, and 36%; the contribution of gluconeogenesis to glucose production was 41, 71, and 92% or 0.96, 1.29, and 1.64 mg . kg-1 . min-1; and the contribution of other sources to glucose production was 1.37, 0.53, and 0.15 mg . kg-1 . min-1. The recycling of glucose is important in prolonged fasting for the maintenance of plasma glucose concentration. We demonstrate here that gluconeogenesis can be easily measured and that it accounts for approximately 90% of glucose production after a 40-h fast.

Adult↗

Effect of fast duration on disposition of an intraduodenal glucose load in the conscious dog.

UNLABELLED: The effects of prior fast duration (18 h, n = 8; 42 h, n = 8) on the glycemic and tissue-specific responses to an intraduodenal glucose load were studied in chronically catheterized conscious dogs. [3-3H]glucose was infused throughout the study. After basal measurements, glucose spiked with [U-14C]glucose was infused for 150 min intraduodenally. Arterial insulin and glucagon were similar in the two groups. Arterial glucose (mg/dl) rose approximately 70% more during glucose infusion after 42 h than after an 18-h fast. The net hepatic glucose balance (mg. kg-1. min-1) was similar in the two groups (basal: 1.8 +/- 0.2 and 2.0 +/- 0.3; glucose infusion: -2.2 +/- 0.5 and -2.2 +/- 0.7). The intrahepatic fate of glucose was 79% glycogen, 13% oxidized, and 8% lactate release after a 42-h fast; it was 23% glycogen, 21% oxidized, and 56% lactate release after an 18-h fast. Net hindlimb glucose uptake was similar between groups. The appearance of intraduodenal glucose during glucose infusion (mg/kg) was 900 +/- 50 and 1,120 +/- 40 after 18- and 42-h fasts (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: glucose administration after prolonged fasting induces higher circulating glucose than a shorter fast (increased appearance of intraduodenal glucose); liver and hindlimb glucose uptakes and the hormonal response, however, are unchanged; finally, an intrahepatic redistribution of carbons favors glycogen deposition.

Alanine↗

Short-term fasting abolishes the sex-related difference in GH and leptin secretion in humans.

We studied growth hormone (GH) and leptin secretion in eight male (age 29.3 +/- 1.2 yr, body mass index 22.2 +/- 0.5 kg/m(2)) and seven female normal subjects (28.0 +/- 0.8 yr, 20.1 +/- 0.7 kg/m(2)) before and after 36 h of fasting. In the fed state, 8-h mean GH and leptin concentrations were higher in females (P < 0.05 and P < 0. 0001, respectively). Fasting increased GH and decreased leptin in both sexes. There was significant interaction between gender and fasting (P < 0.05 for GH and P < 0.005 for leptin). Females showed a slighter increase in GH but a more marked decrease in leptin, so that there was no significant gender-related difference in GH and leptin after fasting. Fasting did not modify insulin-like growth factor (IGF) I, IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-3, acid-labile subunit, or GH binding protein; increased IGFBP-1 and free fatty acids (P < 0.0001) but decreased glucose (P < 0.001) and insulin levels (P < 0.05). In males, insulin levels were higher (P < 0.05) in the fed state and underwent deeper reduction after fasting (interaction P < 0.03). In conclusion, GH and leptin secretions are higher in women than in men in the fed but not in the fasting condition, which abolishes these gender-related differences in humans.

Adult↗

Effects of fasting on muscle mitochondrial energetics and fatty acid metabolism in Ucp3(-/-) and wild-type mice.

Uncoupling protein-3 (UCP3) is a mitochondrial carrier protein of as yet undefined physiological function. To elucidate characteristics of its function, we studied the effects of fasting on resting metabolic rate, respiratory quotient, muscle Ucp3 expression, and mitochondrial proton leak in wild-type and Ucp3(-/-) mice. Also analyzed were the fatty acid compositions of skeletal muscle mitochondria in fed and fasted Ucp3(-/-) and wild-type mice. In wild-type mice, fasting caused significant increases in Ucp3 (4-fold) and Ucp2 (2-fold) mRNA but did not significantly affect mitochondrial proton leak. State 4 oxygen consumption was not affected by fasting in either of the two groups. However, protonmotive force was consistently higher in mitochondria of Ucp3(-/-) animals (P = 0.03), and fasting further augmented protonmotive force in Ucp3(-/-) mice; there was no effect in wild-type mitochondria. Resting metabolic rates decreased with fasting in both groups. Ucp3(-/-) mice had higher respiratory quotients than wild-type mice in fed resting states, indicating impaired fatty acid oxidation. Altogether, results show that the fasting-induced increases in Ucp2 and Ucp3 do not correlate with increased mitochondrial proton leak but support a role for UCP3 in fatty acid metabolism.

Animals↗