The effect of high-fat diet on the development of obesity and serum leptin level in rats

Ten male Wistar-albino rats were overfed with high-fat diet (margarine at the dose 40 g/kg body weight/day in addition to standard rat diet) during six months from the age of between 8-12 weeks. Ten male rats received a standard chow for the same period. The body weights of the overfed rats increased time dependently (basal 171.5±5, at sixth month 268±19 g), whereas those of the rats fed with standard chow did not increase significantly (basal 177±6.4, at sixth month 220±10 g). At the sixth month, mean body fat percentages were 36.3±6.7% and 24.2±5.4% respectively. Both total cholesterol-triglyceride levels and mean serum leptin levels were also higher than in the overfed rats (p<0.01 and p<0.05 respectively). The livers of all rats were histopathologically normal. Conclusion: high-fat diet resulting in an increased body fat percentage in rats is associated with hyperleptinemia, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia. © 1999, Editrice Kurtis.