Growth, behavioural, serum biochemical and morphological changes in female rabbits fed high‐fat diet

Abstract

This study aimed to determine whether high‐fat diet (HFD) could cause growth, behavioural, biochemical and morphological changes in young female rabbits. Thirty‐six female rabbits were randomly divided into two groups fed with either a high‐fat diet (HFD) or a standard normal diet (SND) for 5 weeks. Growth and behavioural changes were recorded during the 5‐week feeding period. Tissue samples, including blood and adipose tissue, were obtained after slaughter. HFD rabbits weighed more by the end of the feeding period, had a higher percent body weight and adipose tissue weight change and had longer body and bust lengths than SND rabbits. HFD rabbits significantly reduced their feed intake and feeding frequency during the fourth and fifth weeks. HFD rabbits also showed lower frequency of drinking and resting and increased stereotypical behaviour. Besides, HFD rabbits showed significant physiological abnormalities. HFD rabbits had higher serum cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) levels than SND rabbits at the end of the feeding period, and higher free fatty acid (FFA) levels than rabbits in the SND group after the third week of feeding. Serum thyroxine (T4) increased significantly in week 2 and week 5 and triiodothyronine (T3) increased significantly in week four. However, there was no significant change in serum glucose (GLU) and insulin (INS) levels. Additionally, HFD reduced the area and diameter of perirenal and subcutaneous fat cells and increased their density. Our findings suggest that HFD rabbits had higher weight gains, accumulation of fat, and more behavioural changes than SND rabbits. Although high levels of fat in the diet had a low impact on hyperglycaemia, it could lead to hyperlipidemia and hyperthyroidism. Our results also suggest that sustained HFD may cause the proliferation of adipocytes in young female rabbits.

Multi–Omics Analysis of Key microRNA–mRNA Metabolic Regulatory Networks in Skeletal Muscle of Obese Rabbits

“…Anatomical phenotypic differences ( Supplementary Figure S1 ) showed that rabbits fed a high–fat diet contained large amounts of fat under the skin and on the viscera, which was consistent with previous studies, indicating that the high–fat diet achieved the expected obesity effect [ 17 ]. Small RNA from skeletal muscles of rabbits in CON–G and HFD–G were sequenced with a HiSeq 2500 (SE50) sequencer.…”

“…Rabbits in both groups were fed from 35 to 70 days of age. The methods in this study were based on our previous research [ 17 ], which indicated that body weight at 70 days of age (2–2.5 kg) is an important reference index to evaluate obesity in rabbits under the same feeding conditions. In this study, 3 rabbits with the highest body weight in each group were screened out before all of the rabbits were killed by intravenous injection.…”

Integrated Proteomics and Metabolomics Analysis of Perirenal Adipose Tissue in Obese Rabbits Treated with a Restricted Diet

“…Before each stage, rabbits were housed undisturbed for 7 days to adapt to the change. Animals were classified as obese using the method described in our previous study [ 11 ]. Briefly, body weight, body length, bust length, and adipose tissue weight were used as the markers of obesity.…”

Genome-wide identification and characterization of perirenal adipose tissue microRNAs in rabbits fed a high-fat diet

“…At the end of the study, weak (rabbits kept away from the feed and did not eat continuously for more than 2 days), disabled (rabbits with obvious limb deformities), and sick (rabbits with significant skin diseases) rabbits were eliminated. Rabbits were classified as obese using the method described in our previous study [ 16 ]. Briefly, body weight, body weight gain, and BMI were measured as markers of obesity.…”