ACE2 activator diminazene aceturate reduces adiposity but preserves lean mass in young and old rats.

ACE2 activator diminazene aceturate reduces adiposity but preserves lean mass in young and old rats. Exp Gerontol. 2018 Jul 11;: Authors: Bruce EB, Sakarya Y, Kirichenko N, Toklu HZ, Sumners C, Morgan D, Tümer N, Scarpace PJ, Carter CS Abstract The obesity epidemic is multi-generational and is particularly debilitating in the aging population, necessitating the use of pharmaceutical interventions. Recent evidence suggests that increasing the activity of the angiotensin converting enzyme-2 [ACE2]/angiotensin-(1-7)[Ang-(1-7)]/Mas receptor (MasR) axis in obese animal models leads to significant reductions in body weight. It was hypothesized that activation of ACE2 via diminazene aceturate (DIZE) will significantly reduce body weight of rats fed a high fat diet. Young and old (4 and 23 months, respectively) male Fisher 344 × Brown Norway rats were fed 60% high fat diet for one week, and subsequently given either 15 mg/kg/day DIZE s.c. or vehicle for three weeks. DIZE treatment resulted in a significant reduction of food intake and body weight in both young and old animals. However, that decrease was so dramatic in the older animals that they all nearly stopped eating. Interestingly, the TD-NMR assessments revealed that the weight-loss was primarily a result of decreased body fat percentage, with a relative preservation of lean mass. Tissue weights confirm the significant loss of white adipose tissue (WAT), with no change in mus...
Source: Experimental Gerontology - Category: Geriatrics Authors: Tags: Exp Gerontol Source Type: research