Original Paper

Increased Susceptibility to Diet-Induced Obesity in Histamine-Deficient Mice
Emilie A. Jørgensen^{a, b}, Thomas W. Vogelsang^a, Ulrich Knigge^{a, c}, Takeshi Watanabe^d, Jørgen Warberg^a, Andreas Kjaer<sup>a, b

a</sup>Cluster for Molecular Imaging, Department of Medical Physiology, University of Copenhagen,
^bDepartment of Clinical Physiology, Nuclear Medicine and PET, and
^cDepartment of Surgery C, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark;
^dResearch Center for Allergy and Immunology, RIKEN Institute, Yokohama, Japan

Address of Corresponding Author

Neuroendocrinology 2006;83:289-294 (DOI: 10.1159/000095339)

  Key Words

• Histamine
• Obesity
• Leptin
• Knock-out mice
• High-fat diet

  Abstract

Background and Aim: The neurotransmitter histamine is involved in the regulation of appetite and in the development of age-related obesity in mice. Furthermore, histamine is a mediator of the anorexigenic action of leptin. The aim of the present study was to investigate a possible role of histamine in the development of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity. Methods: Histamine-deficient histidine decarboxylase knock-out (HDC-KO) mice and C57BL/6J wild-type (WT) mice were given either a standard diet (STD) or HFD for 8 weeks. Body weight, 24-hour caloric intake, epididymal adipose tissue size, plasma leptin concentration and quantitative expression of leptin receptor (Ob-R) mRNA were measured. Results: Both HDC-KO and WT mice fed an HFD for 8 weeks increased their body weight significantly more than STD-fed mice. A significant difference in body weight gain between HDC-KO mice fed an HFD or an STD was seen after 2 weeks, whereas a significant difference in body weight gain was first observed after 5 weeks in WT mice. After 8 weeks 24-hour caloric intake was significantly lower in HFD- than in STD-fed WT mice. In HDC-KO mice no difference in caloric intake was observed between HFD- and STD-fed mice. After 8 weeks epididymal adipose tissue size and plasma leptin concentration had increased significantly in HFD-fed WT and HDC-KO mice compared to their STD-fed controls. Epididymal adipose tissue size was higher in HDC-KO than WT mice, both in STD- and HFD-fed mice. A significant decrease in Ob-R mRNA in HFD-fed HDC-KO mice compared to STD-fed HDC-KO mice was observed, while no such difference was observed in WT mice. Conclusion: Based on our results, we conclude that histamine plays a role in the development of HFD-induced obesity.

Copyright © 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Andreas Kjaer
Cluster for Molecular Imaging, Department of Medical Physiology, Building 12.3
Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen
Blegdamsvej 3 C, DK-2200 Copenhagen N (Denmark)
Tel. +45 3532 7504, Fax +45 3532 7555, E-Mail kjaer@mfi.ku.dk

  Article Information

Received: May 2, 2006
Accepted after revision: July 10, 2006
Published online: August 22, 2006
Number of Print Pages : 6
Number of Figures : 3, Number of Tables : 2, Number of References : 33