Female Mice Have Higher Angiogenesis in Perigonadal Adipose Tissue Than Males in Response to High-Fat Diet

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Background: Impaired capillary growth (angiogenesis) in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue contributes to the development of metabolic disorders in obese males. This association remains unexplored in females, despite mounting evidence that endothelial cells have sex-specific transcriptional profiles. Therefore, herein we assessed whether males and females show distinct angiogenic capacities in response to diet-induced obesity. Methods: Age-matched male and female mice were fed normal chow or high-fat obesogenic diets for 16 weeks. At the end of diet period, systemic glucose disposal was assessed as well as insulin sensitivity of skeletal muscle and visceral adipose tissue. Capillary content and the expression of angiogenic regulators were also evaluated in these tissues. Results: When placed on a high-fat diet, female mice gained less weight than males and showed a metabolic phenotype similar to NC-fed mice, contrasting with the impaired whole-body glucose metabolism observed in high-fat-fed males. However, high-fat-feeding elevated serum lipid levels similarly in male and female mice. Although skeletal muscle of high-fat-fed female mice had higher insulin sensitivity than male counterparts, no sex difference was detected in muscle capillarization. Metabolic functions of perigonadal white adipose tissue (pgWAT) were retained in high-fat-fed females, as evidenced by smaller adip

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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