Paper
International Journal of Obesity (2005) 29, 603–606. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0802917 Published online 1 March 2005
Adiposity induced by adenovirus 5 inoculation
P-W So1, A H Herlihy2 and J D Bell1
- 1Molecular Imaging Group, Imaging Sciences Department, Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London, UK
- 2Biological Imaging Centre, Imaging Sciences Department, Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London, UK
Correspondence: Dr P-W So, Molecular Imaging Group, Imaging Sciences Department, Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK. E-mail: po-wah.so@csc.mrc.ac.uk
Received 4 August 2004; Revised 30 November 2004; Accepted 7 December 2004; Published online 1 March 2005.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the effect of viral inoculation by adenovirus 5 (Ad5) on body composition in a mouse model.
DESIGN:
Longitudinal monitoring before and after a single injection of virus or saline.
SUBJECTS:
Two groups of CD1 mice, one group given a single intraperitoneal dose of Ad5 and the control group, saline.
MEASUREMENTS:
Bodyweights and food intake were recorded before and up to 21 weeks after inoculation. At the end of the study, whole-body 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and localised in vivo 1H MRS spectroscopy of the liver was performed to assess whole-body adiposity and intrahepatic lipid content, respectively.
RESULTS:
Ad5-treated animals gained significantly more weight over a period of 21 weeks after inoculation than the controls, 21.8 g (18.8–25.0) and 18.8 g (17.3–19.8) respectively, (P<0.05). The gain in bodyweight in the former animals arises from increased deposition of adipose tissue as measured by whole-body 1H MRS. Adiposity was 6.7% (3.10–11.20%), and 2.40% (0.85–5.65%) for the Ad5-treated and control animals, respectively (P<0.05). No significant difference in intrahepatic lipid content or food intake was observed between the two groups.
CONCLUSION:
The significantly higher percentage of adipose tissue in the Ad5-treated mice suggest viral infection may play a contributory role to a predisposition to obesity, although its contribution relative to other factors remains to be determined.
Keywords:
adenovirus 5, MRS, adiposity, bodyweight, infectobesity
