engleski

Wistar-Zagreb serotonin (WZ-5HT) rats - a new animal model of obesity

The continuously increasing prevalence of obesity worldwide urges development of animal models sharing features of human obesity, that would enable a search for more effective preventive and/or treatment strategies. Currently available rodent models of obesity are based on genetic manipulations of one or few target genes or on exposures to obesogenic environment such as high-fat diet. Serotonin (5HT), an ancient biogenic amine, plays a vital role in energy homeostasis and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of obesity. Here we will present a potentially novel animal model in obesity research, the two sublines of the Wistar-Zagreb (WZ) 5HT rats, developed by selective breeding toward physiological extremes of platelet serotonin parameters. Selective breeding procedure resulted in high- 5HT and low-5HT subline of rats with constitutionally upregulated and downregulated, respectively, 5HT tone. High-5HT animals have a lifelong increased body weight and elevated adiposity as compared to low-5HT rats. On the other hand, low-5HT rats seem to be more sensitive to obesogenic effects of high-fat diet. Our animals are kept 3 per cage with free access to commercial rat chow (Mucedola, 4RF21 or MD.06415, 45% kcal from fat) and tap water, and are housed under controlled conditions (23±2°C, 55±10% humidity, 12h light/12h dark). All experiments are conducted in accordance with national legislations (NN 55/2013 ; 102/2017) and the EU directive on the protection of animals used in scientific purposes (2010/63/EU). 3R principle and the ARRIVE guidelines are followed as much as possible and healthy status of animals is tested four times a year (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb).

Wistar-Zagreb 5HT rat ; serotonin ; high-fat diet ; obesity ; animal model

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