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North Carolina State
University
Functional Genomic
Characterization of Polygenic Obese Mice Fed Conjugated Linoleic Acid R.
L. House, J. P. Cassady, E. J. Eisen, T. E. Eling and
J. Odle Issue Within the past two decades, the prevalence of obesity in the human population has soared to epidemic proportions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 30% of the U.S. population (~58 million) are considered obese and 15% of children aged six to nineteen are considered overweight. A clear example of the rising public concern regarding this epidemic can be seen in the U.S. legislature. In this year alone (2003) 140 bills have been filed aimed directly at obesity, almost double the 72 that were filed last year. Obesity has also been linked to other potentially fatal diseases such as coronary heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes with $117 billion dollars spent each year on medical cases related either directly or indirectly to obesity. Second to cigarette smoke, obesity is the leading cause of preventable deaths in the U.S., making it a vital priority to find a solution to such a rapidly evolving pandemic. What
has been done We are establishing a collaborative team of scientists to investigate fundamental genetic and environmental elements that may contribute to the etiology of obesity. Specifically,
this project unites the expertise of NIEHS laboratories studying eicosanoid
metabolism and cell growth to that of researchers at North Carolina State
University with expertise in quantitative genetics and nutritional
biochemistry. Specifically we have
conducted a pilot experiment with a unique line of obese mice developed at
North Carolina State University (Figure 1).
The mice were fed a unique fat source called conjugated linoleic acid
which dramatically reduced fat depots by as much as 50% in as little as 1-2
weeks. In collaboration with NIEHS,
we have applied functional genomic microarray analysis to examine genes that
are differentially expressed, and in doing so hope to identify genes which
play a fundamental role in the pathology of obesity. Impact We have developed an animal model that will allow us
to study nutritional and genetic variables which contribute to the problem of
obesity. Functional genomic analysis
will allow us to screen for novel genes that may be altered by nutritional
variables and may lead to the identification of new nutriceutical or
pharmaceutical agents to combat obesity. Figure 1. Lean (ICR) and polygenic obese M16 mice.
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