RESUMEN
AIMS: To test whether communicating cardiovascular diseases (CVD) risk using a novel risk assessment tool (Heart Age) will be able to motivate a population to adopt healthier lifestyles and improve CVD risk profile over the use of a traditional percentage-based tool. METHODS: A single-blind randomized intervention study was carried out in a Caucasian population. A total of 3153 subjects were randomly allocated to one of three study groups: control (conventional medical advice was given to the subjects), Framingham REGICOR (10-year percentage risk score, calibrated to Spanish population was given to the subjects), or Heart Age group (Heart Age tool was administered to the subjects). Anthropometrical and metabolic parameters were measured and lifestyle habits were recorded at recruitment and 12-months post intervention. RESULTS: Both the Framingham REGICOR and the Heart Age intervention groups demonstrated significant decreases in their risk scores at post intervention compared to the control group, with the improvement being of a greater magnitude in the Heart Age group. No differences per gender were observed in the Heart Age group. CONCLUSIONS: Informing patients about their CVD risk expressed as the new Heart Age tool results in a reduction in their CVD risk higher than the one observed when the Framingham REGICOR risk score was used.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedades Cardiovasculares/prevención & control , Técnicas de Apoyo para la Decisión , Conductas Relacionadas con la Salud , Conocimientos, Actitudes y Práctica en Salud , Educación del Paciente como Asunto , Población Blanca/psicología , Adulto , Enfermedades Cardiovasculares/diagnóstico , Enfermedades Cardiovasculares/etnología , Enfermedades Cardiovasculares/psicología , Comunicación , Femenino , Humanos , Estilo de Vida , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Motivación , Servicios Preventivos de Salud , Medición de Riesgo , Factores de Riesgo , Conducta de Reducción del Riesgo , Método Simple Ciego , España/epidemiología , Factores de TiempoRESUMEN
The effects of imprinted genes on fetal growth and development have been firmly established. By and large, their roles conform to a conflict over provision of limited maternal resources to offspring, such that paternally expressed imprinted genes in offspring generally promote growth of the fetus, while maternally expressed imprinted genes tend to restrict it. It is comparatively recently that the important effects of imprinted genes in postnatal physiology have begun to be demonstrated, although a similar conflict may apply. In this chapter, we shall review some of the genetic evidence for imprinted effects on obesity, consider the action of selected imprinted genes in the central and peripheral control of energy homeostasis and look in detail at the intriguing effects of imprinting at the Gnas locus. Finally, we shall discuss whether these observations fit expectations of the prevailing theory for the existence of imprinting in mammals and go on to consider imprinted genes as targets for developmental programming.
Asunto(s)
Adaptación Fisiológica , Metabolismo Energético , Impresión Genómica/genética , Animales , Homeostasis , Atención PosnatalRESUMEN
Brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis is inhibited during late-pregnancy and lactation in the rat. However, scarce information concerning BAT functionality during mid-pregnancy is available. The aim of this work was to investigate uncoupling proteins and leptin expression during placentation in rat BAT as well as other key parameters in the thermogenic function of the tissue. BAT mitochondrial content was found to be reduced 50% in 11 and 13 day pregnant rats as compared to nonpregnant controls, although uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) content was not modified. Furthermore, UCP3 mRNA levels were found to be highly increased during this period. beta3-adrenergic receptor (beta3-AR) decreased expression resulted in a higher alpha2/beta3 ratio. Finally, leptin mRNA levels in BAT were found to be 3-fold up-regulated in pregnant animals. In conclusion, we show the existence of profound changes in thermogenic features in BAT during gestational days 11 and 13, pointing to the importance of this tissue during mid-pregnancy.
Asunto(s)
Tejido Adiposo Pardo/metabolismo , Proteínas Portadoras/metabolismo , Leptina/metabolismo , Proteínas de la Membrana/metabolismo , Embarazo/metabolismo , Termogénesis/fisiología , Animales , Proteínas Portadoras/genética , Femenino , Regulación de la Expresión Génica , Canales Iónicos , Leptina/genética , Proteínas de la Membrana/genética , Mitocondrias/metabolismo , Proteínas Mitocondriales , Placentación/genética , Placentación/fisiología , ARN Mensajero/análisis , ARN Mensajero/metabolismo , Ratas , Ratas Wistar , Receptores Adrenérgicos beta 3/genética , Receptores Adrenérgicos beta 3/metabolismo , Termogénesis/genética , Proteína Desacopladora 1 , Proteína Desacopladora 3RESUMEN
In the present study, we have investigated gender differences in rat liver mitochondrial oxidative metabolism. Total mitochondrial population (M) as well as the heavy (M1), medium (M3), and light (M8) mitochondrial fractions obtained by means of differential centrifugation steps at 1,000, 3,000, and 8,000 g, respectively, were isolated. Electron microscopic analysis was performed and mitochondrial protein content and cardiolipin levels, mitochondrial O(2) flux, ATP synthase activity, mitochondrial membrane potential, and mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) protein levels were measured in each sample. Our results indicate that mitochondria from females have higher protein content and higher cardiolipin levels, greater respiratory and phosphorylative capacities, and more-energized mitochondria in respiratory state 3. Moreover, protein levels of TFAM were four times greater in females than in males. Gender differences in the aforementioned parameters were more patent in the isolated heavy M1 and M3 mitochondrial fractions. The present study demonstrates that gender-related differences in liver mitochondrial function are due mainly to a higher capacity and efficiency of substrate oxidation, likely related to greater mitochondrial machinery in females than in males, which is in accord with greater mitochondrial differentiation in females.
Asunto(s)
Mitocondrias Hepáticas/metabolismo , Biogénesis de Organelos , Fosforilación Oxidativa , Caracteres Sexuales , Animales , Western Blotting , Respiración de la Célula , Metabolismo Energético , Femenino , Citometría de Flujo , Masculino , Microscopía Electrónica de Transmisión , Mitocondrias Hepáticas/ultraestructura , Ratas , Ratas Wistar , Partículas Submitocóndricas/metabolismo , Factores de Transcripción/análisis , Factores de Transcripción/metabolismoRESUMEN
To investigate the possible existence of a gender dimorphism in the morphology and functionality of brown adipose tissue (BAT) mitochondrial subpopulations, we obtained three mitochondrial fractions - heavy, medium and light - by differential centrifugation. Electron microscopic analysis was carried out and mitochondrial protein content, cytochrome c oxidase and ATP synthase activities, mitochondrial DNA content and UCP1 protein levels were measured in each mitochondrial fraction. Female rats showed a greater mitochondrial size than males, with a different distribution pattern of the subpopulations. These differences were accompanied by higher oxidative and thermogenic capacities and a higher protein content in female rat BAT. This tissue also showed a greater tendency to respiratory chain uncoupling, as well as a close coordination between the oxidative, phosphorylative and thermogenic processes. These differences were found in the heavy subpopulation but not in the light one. Our results demonstrate that female rat BAT shows a highly differentiated mitochondrial pool, with the heavy mitochondrial subpopulation as the main responsible for the greater thermogenic activity of this tissue. In addition, it seems that there is a differential regulation of the mitochondrial growth cycle between genders in BAT, which leads to enhanced thermogenic capacity in female rat mitochondria.
Asunto(s)
Tejido Adiposo Pardo/metabolismo , Tejido Adiposo Pardo/ultraestructura , Mitocondrias/ultraestructura , Termogénesis , Animales , Proteínas Portadoras/análisis , ADN Mitocondrial/análisis , Femenino , Canales Iónicos , Masculino , Proteínas de la Membrana/análisis , Mitocondrias/metabolismo , Proteínas Mitocondriales , ATPasas de Translocación de Protón Mitocondriales/análisis , Prostaglandina-Endoperóxido Sintasas/análisis , Ratas , Ratas Wistar , Caracteres Sexuales , Proteína Desacopladora 1RESUMEN
Gender-related differences in brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis of 110-day-old rats were studied by determining the morphological and functional features of BAT. The adrenergic control was assessed by studying the levels of beta(3)- and alpha(2A)-adrenergic receptors (AR) and by determining the lipolytic response to norepinephrine (beta(1)-, beta(2)-, beta(3)-, and alpha(2)-AR agonist), isoprenaline (beta(1)-, beta(2)-, and beta(3)-AR agonist), and CGP12177A (selective partial beta(3)-AR agonist but beta(1)- and beta(2)-AR antagonist) together with post-receptor agents, forskolin and dibutyryl cyclic AMP. The female rats that had greater oxygen consumption showed higher UCP1 content, a higher multilocular arrangement, and both longer cristae and higher cristae dense mitochondria in BAT indicating heightened thermogenic capacity and activity; this picture is accompanied by a more sensitive beta(3)-AR to norepinephrine signal (EC(50) 10-fold lower for CGP12177A) and a lower expression of alpha(2A)-AR than male rats. Taken together, our results support the idea that the BAT hormonal environment could be involved in the control of different elements of lipolytic and thermogenic adrenergic pathways. Gender dimorphism is both at receptor (changing alpha(2A)-AR density and beta(3)-AR affinity) and post-receptor (modulating the links involved in the adrenergic signal transduction) levels. These changes in adrenergic control could be responsible, at least in part, both for the important mitochondrial recruitment differences and functional and morphological features of BAT in female rats under usual rodent housing temperatures.