(-)-Epicatechin reverses energy metabolism changes associated with the consumption of a high-fat diet in mice

HID E; FISCHERMAN L; VALDEZ LB; PIOTRKOWSKI B; FRAGA CG; RUKAVINA MIKUSIC IA; PRINCE PD; GALLEANO M

Kobe

Congreso; The 9th International Conference on Polyphenols and Health (ICPH 2019); 2019

Objectives: To study the effects of (-)-epicatechin on energy metabolism in mice fed a high fatdiet.Materials and methods: C57BL/6J male mice were fed for 14 w control (C) or high-fat diets(60% fat from lard), without (HF) or with 20 mg EC/kg body weight (HFE). At the end of thestudy, periaortic fat pads, heart and gastrocnemius were isolated, and processed for histology, IHC,and preparation of total and mitochondrial fractions.Results: High-fat diet consumption led to an expansion of thoracic periaortic adipose tissue(TPAT) with a significant shift from beige to white adipose tissue phenotype in terms of lipidvacuolization and UCP1 expression. EC prevented these changes maintaining TPAT similar tocontrols. Cardiac (CM) and skeletal (SM) muscle mitochondrial aspects were evaluated.Mitochondrial respiratory complexes I-III, II-III, and IV activities were higher in CM (27%, 24%and 27%) and in SM (28%, 43% and 43% respectively) of HF mice, in comparison with C. EC didnot show any effect on CM, but prevented the observed effects in SM. UCP3 level was doubled inCM and SM from HF mice respect to their controls, independently of EC supplementation.Biogenesis processes were explored through the evaluation of PGC-1alpha and Tfam levels thatwere similar among the four experimental groups. Oxidative and inflammatory markers wereslightly or not affected by the treatments.Conclusions: EC prevented undesirable changes in TPAT metabolism, and in mitochondrialfunction. The latter effect observed in SM but not in CM could be associated to a differentialbioavailability of EC metabolites and or to different mechanisms.Support: UBACyT 20020170100586BA (MG), 20020160100132BA (CGF), and PIP-CONICET11220170100585CO (MG).