Yeungnam Univ J Med.  2018 Dec;35(2):213-218. 10.12701/yujm.2018.35.2.213.

The effect of thalidomide on visceral fat pad mass and triglyceride concentration of the skeletal muscles in rats

• Kim KH
• Choi CB
• Kim JY

• KMID: 2433741
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12701/yujm.2018.35.2.213

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Body fats, especially both of abdominal fat pad mass and skeletal muscle fat content, are inversely related to insulin action. Therefore, methods for decreasing visceral fat mass and muscle triglyceride content may be helpful for the prevention of insulin resistance.
METHODS
Thalidomide, used for its anti-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory properties, was administered to rats for 4 weeks. A 10% solution of thalidomide in dimethyl sulfoxide was injected daily into the peritoneal cavity as much as 100 mg/kg of body weight.
RESULTS
The total visceral fat pad mass in the thalidomide-treated group was 11% lower than in the control group. The size of adipocytes of the epididymal fat pad mass in the thalidomide-treated group was smaller than in the control group. The intraperitoneal thalidomide treatment increased triglyceride concentrations by 16% in the red muscle, but not in the white muscle.
CONCLUSION
The results suggested that intraperitoneal thalidomide treatment inhibited abdominal fat accumulation, and that the free fatty acids in the blood were preferentially accumulated in the red muscle rather than in the white muscle.

Keyword

Muscle; Skeletal; Thalidomide; Triglycerides

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Fat
Adipocytes
Adipose Tissue
Animals
Body Weight
Dimethyl Sulfoxide
Fatty Acids, Nonesterified
Insulin
Insulin Resistance
Intra-Abdominal Fat*
Muscle, Skeletal*
Peritoneal Cavity
Rats*
Thalidomide*
Triglycerides*
Dimethyl Sulfoxide
Fatty Acids, Nonesterified
Insulin
Thalidomide
Triglycerides

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Total visceral fat pad mass in the control and thalidomide-treated rats. a)p<0.05 vs. control.

• 

  Fig. 2. The adipocyte size of the epididymal adipose tissue in the control and thalidomide-treated rats (hematoxylin and eosin stain, ×100).

• 

  Fig. 3. Triglyceride concentration of the white, red, and cardiac muscles, and the liver in the control and thalidomide-treated rats. a)p<0.05 vs. control, b)p<0.01 vs. control.

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