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Benefits of l-alanine or l-arginine supplementation against adiposity and glucose intolerance in monosodium glutamate-induced obesity

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Abstract

Purpose

l-alanine (Ala) and l-arginine (Arg) have been reported to regulate pancreatic β-cell physiology and to prevent body fat accumulation in diet-induced obesity. Here, we assessed growth and adiposity parameters, glucose tolerance, insulin secretion and the expression of insulin and nutrient-regulated proteins in monosodium glutamate (MSG)-obese mice supplemented with either Ala or Arg.

Methods

Male newborn C57Bl/6 mice received a daily subcutaneous injection of MSG or saline solution (CTL group), during the first 6 days of life. From 30 to 90 days of age, MSG and CTL mice received or not 2.55 % Ala (CAla or MArg groups) or 1.51 % Arg-HCl (CArg or MArg groups) in their drinking water.

Results

Adult MSG mice displayed higher adiposity associated with lower phosphorylation of the adipogenic enzyme, ACC, in adipose tissue. Glucose intolerance in MSG mice was linked to lower insulin secretion and to lower expression of IRβ in adipose tissue, as well as AS160 phosphorylation in skeletal muscle. Perigonadal fat depots were smaller in Ala and Arg mice, while retroperitoneal fat pads were decreased by Ala supplementation only. Both Ala and Arg improved fed-state glycemia as well as IRβ and pAS160 content, but only Ala led to improved glucose tolerance and insulin secretion. Adipostatic signals were increased in MAla mice, as indicated by enhanced AMPK phosphorylation and pACC content in fat depots.

Conclusions

Ala supplementation led to more pronounced metabolic improvements compared to Arg, possibly due to suppression of lipogenesis through activation of the AMPK/ACC pathway.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Grants from Conselho Nacional para o Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq 442846/2014-2), Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (Faperj E-26/110.921/2013 and E-26/101.129/2014) and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (Fapesp). We are grateful to Gilliana Neves and Josué Almeida from Biotério de Experimentação de Roedores for animal care and Nicola Conran for editing the English.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório Integrado de Morfologia, NUPEM, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Campus UFRJ-Macaé, Avenida São José do Barreto, 764, Macaé, RJ, 27965-045, Brazil

    Thiago R. Araujo, Israelle N. Freitas, Everardo M. Carneiro & Rosane A. Ribeiro

  2. Laboratório de Pâncreas Endócrino e Metabolismo, Departamento de Biologia Estrutural e Funcional, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil

    Jean F. Vettorazzi, Thiago M. Batista, Junia C. Santos-Silva & Antonio C. Boschero

  3. Laboratório de Fisiologia Endócrina e Metabolismo, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná (UNIOESTE), Cascavel, PR, Brazil

    Maria L. Bonfleur & Sandra L. Balbo

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  1. Thiago R. Araujo
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  2. Israelle N. Freitas
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  3. Jean F. Vettorazzi
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  5. Junia C. Santos-Silva
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  6. Maria L. Bonfleur
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  7. Sandra L. Balbo
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  8. Antonio C. Boschero
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  9. Everardo M. Carneiro
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  10. Rosane A. Ribeiro
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Correspondence to Rosane A. Ribeiro.

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Araujo, T.R., Freitas, I.N., Vettorazzi, J.F. et al. Benefits of l-alanine or l-arginine supplementation against adiposity and glucose intolerance in monosodium glutamate-induced obesity. Eur J Nutr 56, 2069–2080 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-016-1245-6

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