Protein malnutrition after weaning disrupts body clocks and daily insulin release in mice

Protein restriction in male C57BL/6 J mice led to disruptions in daily patterns of glucose, triglycerides, and insulin levels.

• Mice on a low-protein diet increased their food intake without changes in locomotor activity or energy expenditure.
• Increased expression of the neuropeptide Npy and disrupted patterns of the anorexigenic Pomc were observed in the hypothalamus of low-protein diet mice.
• Daily rhythmic patterns of plasma glucose, triglycerides, and insulin were disrupted in mice fed a low-protein diet.
• Altered rhythmic expression of clock genes was noted in peripheral tissues and pancreatic islets of low-protein diet mice.
• Impaired daily insulin secretion and changes in genes related to exocytosis were associated with the disruption of clock genes in pancreatic islets.
• Pharmacological activation of REV-ERBα did not restore insulin secretion in low-protein diet mice.

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