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An age-dependent alteration of the respiratory exchange ratio in the db/db mouse

Laboratory Animal Research volume 31, pages 1–6 (2015)Cite this article

Abstract

The leptin receptor-deficient db/db mouse is a rodent model of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Diabetes in db/db mice shows an age-dependent progression, with early insulin resistance followed by an insulin secretory defect resulting in profound hyperglycemia. However, there is insufficient data on age-dependent changes of energy metabolism in db/db mice. We demonstrated an age-dependent decrease in the respiratory exchange ratio (RER), calculated by a ratio of VO2/VCO2, in db/db mice. The RER determined by indirect calorimetry, was 1.03 in db/db mice under 6 weeks of age, which were similar to those in heterozygote (db/+) and wild-type (+/+) mice. However, RER decreased from approximately 0.9 to 0.8 by 10 weeks of age and subsequently returned to approximately 0.9 at 22 weeks of age. The changes in RER were concurrent with the alterations in body weight and blood glucose level. However, other metabolic indicators such as glucose tolerance, changes in body fat mass, and urinary glucose levels, did not change with age. The results suggested that the energy source utilized in db/db mice changed with the age-related progression of diabetes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory Animal Resource Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), 30 Yeongudanjiro, Ochangeup, Cheongwongu, Cheongju, Chungbuk, 363-883, Korea

    Hye-Min Choi, Hae Rim Kim, Eun-Kyoung Kim, Yong Sub Byun, Young-Suk Won, Won-Ki Yoon, Hyoung-Chin Kim & Ki-Hoan Nam

  2. Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea

    Hye-Min Choi & Jong-Goo Kang

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  1. Hye-Min Choi
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  2. Hae Rim Kim
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Correspondence to Ki-Hoan Nam.

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Choi, HM., Kim, H.R., Kim, EK. et al. An age-dependent alteration of the respiratory exchange ratio in the db/db mouse. Lab Anim Res 31, 1–6 (2015). https://doi.org/10.5625/lar.2015.31.1.1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.5625/lar.2015.31.1.1

Keywords

Laboratory Animal Research

ISSN: 2233-7660