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

RUKAVINA-MIKUSIC I; PRINCE PD; GALLEANO M.; HID EJ; FISCHERMAN L; VALDEZ LB; PIOTRKOWSKI B; FRAGA CG

Kobe

Congreso; 9th International Conference on Polyphenols and Health; 2019

International Conference on Polyphenols and Health

Objectives: To study the effects of (-)-epicatechin on energy metabolism in mice fed a high fat diet. 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 the study, 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 lipid vacuolization and UCP1 expression. EC prevented these changes maintaining TPAT similar to controls. 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 did not show any effect on CM, but prevented the observed effects in SM. UCP3 level was doubled in CM 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 that were similar among the four experimental groups. Oxidative and inflammatory markers were slightly or not affected by the treatments.Conclusions: EC prevented undesirable changes in TPAT metabolism, and in mitochondrial function. The latter effect observed in SM but not in CM could be associated to a differential bioavailability of EC metabolites and or to different mechanisms.