gibert-rapiddevelopment-2014.pdf (1.55 MB)
Rapid development of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in Psammomys obesus (Israeli Sand Rat)
journal contribution
posted on 2014-01-01, 00:00 authored by Briana RandallBriana Randall, Timothy ConnorTimothy Connor, C Wittmer, Lelia Abreu, A Kaspi, Mark ZiemannMark Ziemann, Gunveen KaurGunveen Kaur, Adrian Cooper, Shona MorrisonShona Morrison, Scott Lee, Andrew SinclairAndrew Sinclair, Y Gibert, J Trevaskis, J Roth, A El-Osta, Richard StandishRichard Standish, Ken WalderKen WalderBackground and AimsA major impediment to establishing new treatments for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis is the lack of suitable animal models that accurately mimic the biochemical and metabolic characteristics of the disease. The aim of this study was to explore a unique polygenic animal model of metabolic disease as a model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis by determining the effects of 2% dietary cholesterol supplementation on metabolic and liver endpoints in Psammomys obesus (Israeli sand rat).MethodsP. obesus were provided ad libitum access to either a standard rodent diet (20% kcal/fat) or a standard rodent diet supplemented with 2% cholesterol (w/w) for 4 weeks. Histological sections of liver from animals on both diets were examined for key features of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. The expression levels of key genes involved in hepatic lipid metabolism were measured by real-time PCR.ResultsP. obesus fed a cholesterol-supplemented diet exhibited profound hepatomegaly and steatosis, and higher plasma transaminase levels. Histological analysis identified extensive steatosis, inflammation, hepatocyte injury and fibrosis. Hepatic gene expression profiling revealed decreased expression of genes involved in delivery and uptake of lipids, and fatty acid and triglyceride synthesis, and increased expression of genes involved in very low density lipoprotein cholesterol synthesis, triglyceride and cholesterol export.ConclusionsP. obesus rapidly develop non-alcoholic steatohepatitis when fed a cholesterol-supplemented diet that appears to be histologically and mechanistically similar to patients.
History
Journal
PLoS oneVolume
9Issue
3Pagination
1 - 7Publisher
Public Library of ScienceLocation
San Francisco, Calif.Publisher DOI
ISSN
1932-6203Language
engPublication classification
C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2014, Public Library of ScienceUsage metrics
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