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Selective reduction in body fat mass and plasma leptin induced by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition in rats

International Journal of Obesity volume 32, pages 1576–1584 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

There is emerging evidence that angiotensin stimulates adipocyte differentiation and lipogenesis. This study tested the hypothesis that inhibition of angiotensin II by treatment with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, perindopril, would reduce fat mass in rats.

Design:

After a 12-day baseline, rats were divided into two groups: one was untreated and the other received perindopril (1.2 mg kg−1 per day) in drinking water for 26 days.

Subjects:

In total, 16 male Sprague–Dawley rats aged 10 weeks at the start of the study.

Measurements:

Plasma leptin was measured in samples collected at baseline, half-way through and at the end of treatment. Body weight, food and water intake were measured daily throughout the experiment. Body fat mass, bone and lean mass were determined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) at the end of the treatment period.

Results:

Daily food intake was the same in both groups throughout the study. By the end of treatment, animals receiving perindopril showed a modest reduction in weight gain relative to the untreated animals (62.4±5.0 g vs 73.0±4.0 g; P<0.05). DEXA analysis showed that body composition was greatly altered and the perindopril-treated group had 26% less body fat mass than the untreated group (61.0±5.2 g vs 44.4±4.2 g; P<0.01). The reduction in body fat mass was correlated with reductions in the weight of both the epididymal and retroperitoneal fat pads (P<0.001). Similarly, plasma leptin was reduced by perindopril treatment (4.64±0.56 ng ml−1) compared to the untreated group (8.27±1.03 ng ml−1; P<0.001). In contrast, there were no differences in lean or bone mass between the two groups.

Conclusion:

Oral treatment with perindopril selectively reduced body fat mass without influencing daily food intake. In contrast, there were no differences in lean or bone mass between the two groups.

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Acknowledgements

MLM was supported by the G. Harald and Leila Y Mathers Charitable Foundation and the J Robert Jr and Helen C Kleberg Foundation. The support of grants from the Australia Research Council (DP0346830) and National Health and Medical Research Council (350313) is also gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Howard Florey Institute and Centre for Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    M L Mathai & S Naik

  2. School of Exercise and Nutrition, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia

    A J Sinclair

  3. School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia

    H S Weisinger & R S Weisinger

  4. School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Victoria University, Victoria, Australia

    M L Mathai

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  1. M L Mathai
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Correspondence to M L Mathai.

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Mathai, M., Naik, S., Sinclair, A. et al. Selective reduction in body fat mass and plasma leptin induced by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition in rats. Int J Obes 32, 1576–1584 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2008.126

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