Exp Mol Med.  2007 Jun;39(3):385-394.

Swim training improves leptin receptor deficiency-induced obesity and lipid disorder by activating uncoupling proteins

• Oh KS
• Kim EY
• Yoon M
• Lee CM

Abstract

Leptin receptor deficiency causes morbid obesity and hyperlipidemia in mice. Since physical exercise enhances energy expenditure, it is an important part of successful weight-control regimens. We investigated the mechanism by which swim training regulates leptin receptor deficiency-induced obesity and lipid disorder in a mouse model of obesity (obese db/db mouse). Swim training for 6 weeks significantly decreased body weight gain and adipose tissue mass in both sexes of obese and lean mice, compared to their respective sedentary controls. These effects were particularly evident in obese mice. Swim training also caused significant decreases in serum levels of triglycerides, free fatty acids and total cholesterol in both obese and lean mice. In obese mice, swim training increased the levels of mRNAs and proteins encoding uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), UCP2 and UCP3 in brown adipose tissue, white adipose tissue and skeletal muscle, respectively. In conclusion, these findings suggest that, in mice, swim training can effectively prevent body weight gain, adiposity and lipid disorders caused by leptin receptor deficiency, in part through activation of UCPs in adipose tissue and skeletal muscle, which may contribute to alleviating metabolic syndromes, such as obesity, hyperlipidemia and type 2 diabetes.

Keyword

adipose tissue, white; leptin receptor; lipid metabolism disorders; mitochondrial uncoupling protein; obesity

MeSH Terms

Adipose Tissue/metabolism
Animals
Body Weight
Female
Ion Channels/genetics/*metabolism
Lipid Metabolism
Male
Mice
Mitochondrial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism
Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism
Obesity/genetics/*metabolism/prevention & control
*Physical Conditioning, Animal
RNA, Messenger/metabolism
Receptors, Cell Surface/*deficiency/genetics/*metabolism
Receptors, Leptin
Swimming