Abstract
The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of
housing conditions on long-term voluntary food intake, body
weight, and adiposity levels in the OLETF rat model of obesity.
OLETF males and females develop obesity in a gradual manner
and have been reported as presenting 30–40% more body
weight and fat than LETO rat controls as adults. Here, rats of
both sexes were provided with either customary conditions (two
rats in standard-sized cages with bedding) or enriched conditions
(four rats in large cages with a variety of types of bedding
and toys) starting at the time of weaning. No alterations were
found in any of the parameters in the LETO strain and in the
OLETF females, whereas OLETF males showed decreased
food intake, body mass, and adiposity as well as reduced levels
of the adiposity hormone leptin. This study is the first to report
that housing conditions are variables that are as critical in
the study of obesity and energy balance as they are in studies
examining emotionality and cognition. The standard laboratory
animal environment may thus represent a confounding variable
in research on obesity, producing an additive effect to the
genetic predisposition that may worsen the obese phenotype (at
least in males). This effect may lead to an inaccurate estimation
of the direct health consequences of a specific genetic abnormality,
compromising experimental results.
Original language | American English |
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Pages (from-to) | 39-45 |
Journal | ILAR Journal |
Volume | 52 |
State | Published - 2011 |