Partial lack of leptin increases diet-related obesity and metabolic problems in mice

Mice with partial leptin deficiency showed significant metabolic abnormalities when fed a high-calorie diet.

• Ob/+ mice did not exhibit major metabolic issues on a standard-calorie diet, except for elevated plasma adiponectin levels.
• High-calorie feeding led to increased body fat, liver fat accumulation, high plasma cholesterol, and glucose intolerance in both ob/+ and +/+ mice, with more severe effects in ob/+ mice.
• Ob/+ mice on a high-calorie diet showed reduced leptin and adiponectin levels, decreased expression of a key fat-burning protein, and increased liver enzymes, triglycerides, and signs of insulin resistance.
• While fatty acid production in the liver decreased in +/+ mice on a high-calorie diet, it was increased in ob/+ mice, along with the reactivation of genes responsible for fat production.
• Leptin treatment in ob/+ mice on a high-calorie diet alleviated most of the observed metabolic issues.

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