Chronic High-Fat Diet Exacerbates Sexually Dimorphic Pomctm1/tm1 Mouse Obesity.

Mice with a targeted mutation in the pro-opiomelanocortin (Pomc) gene (Pomctm1/tm1 mice) are unable to synthesize desacetyl-α-MSH and α-MSH and they develop obesity when fed chow diet. In this study, we hypothesized that a chronic high-fat (HF) diet exacerbates Pomctm1/tm1 mouse obesity. Male and female Pomcwt/wt and Pomctm1/tm1 mice were fed low-fat (LF) (10 kcal percent fat) or HF (45 kcal percent fat) diets from weaning for 23 weeks. We show that Pomctm1/tm1 mouse obesity is sexually dimorphic and exacerbated by an HF diet. Male Pomctm1/tm1 mice develop obesity because they are hyperphagic compared with Pomcwt/wt mice when fed an LF or HF diet. Female Pomctm1/tm1 mice develop obesity when feeding on an LF or HF diet because they exhibit signs of reduced energy expenditure (no change in feed efficiency; body weight gained exceeding energy intake) compared with Pomcwt/wt mice. A chronic HF diet exacerbates male Pomctm1/tm1 and Pomcwt/wt mouse obesity, and the increased energy intake fully accounts for increased weight gain. In contrast, female Pomcwt/wt mice are protected from chronic HF diet-induced obesity because they reduce the amount of HF diet eaten, and they appear to increase their energy expenditure (no change in feed efficiency but energy intake exceeding body weight gained). A chronic HF diet exacerbates female Pomctm1/tm1 mouse obesity due to impaired ability to reduce the amount of HF diet eaten and apparent impaired HF diet-induced adaptive thermogenesis. Our data show that desacetyl-α-MSH and α-MSH are required for sexually dimorphic HF diet-induced C57BL/6J obesity. In conclusion, desacetyl-α-MSH and α-MSH play salutary roles in sexually dimorphic melanocortin obesity and sexually dimorphic HF diet-induced C57BL/6J obesity.

Interactions between genetic and environmental factors underlie the development of obesity and altered metabolism, and diet is one of the main environmental factors that contributes to this disease (1). Melanocortin obesity (caused by functionally impaired melanocortin signaling) is exacerbated by feeding a high-fat (HF) diet (2–7). Recently, we showed that mice with a targeted mutation in the pro-opiomelanocortin (Pomc) gene [Pomctm1/tm1 mice; C57BL/6J mice genetically modified so that they are unable to synthesize desacetyl-α-MSH and α-MSH] are hyperphagic and develop obesity when fed a regular chow diet (8). We also showed that the obesity phenotype is exacerbated by acute (4 day) HF diet feeding due to enhanced hyperphagia and reduced energy expenditure, compared with wild-type (WT) littermate (Pomcwt/wt) mice. However, chronic HF diet feeding has greater relevance to human obesity where excess caloric intake invariably leads to obesity (1). In this study, we tested our hypotheses that desacetyl-α-MSH and α-MSH protect mice from chronic HF diet–induced obesity and can reverse chronic HF diet–induced obesity in Pomctm1/tm1 mice. Understanding which, and how, specific POMC-derived peptides influence energy metabolism when mice are chronically fed an HF diet might hold answers to how obesity can be prevented or treated.

The interaction of an HF diet with melanocortin obesity is complex and dependent on mouse strain background. Overall, the HF diet effects for melanocortin obesity on a C57BL/6J background are additive, over and above, what occurs in WT C57BL/6J mice (3). An HF diet exacerbates obesity in Pomc, melanocortin-3 receptor (Mc3r), or melanocortin-4 receptor (Mc4r) knockout mice (3, 4, 9, 10). Furthermore, an HF diet exaggerates sexually dimorphic melanocortin obesity and altered glucose metabolism. Male, but not female, Mc3r knockout mice gain significantly more weight and are hyperphagic when fed an HF diet compared with a low-fat (LF) diet (10). Male, but not female, Mc3r-deficient mice fed an HF diet exhibit increased fasting hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia, severe glucose intolerance, and insulin resistance in muscle and adipose tissue (10). An HF diet exacerbates fasting hyperinsulinemia for male and female Mc4r knockout mice, but this effect is much greater for female compared with male mice. However, only male Mc4r knockout mice fed an HF diet, compared with control mice fed an HF diet or Mc4r knockout mice fed an LF diet, exhibit HF diet–induced hyperglycemia (10).

HF diet–induced obesity and comorbidity phenotypes in WT rats and mice can also be sexually dimorphic. HF diet–induced rodent obesity is influenced by strain, sex, age, dietary fat content, length of time on diet, and environmental temperature (11). C57BL/6J mice are a commonly used mouse model of HF diet–induced obesity (12, 13) because they rapidly develop obesity with insulin resistance in liver, muscle, and white adipose tissue on an HF diet (11). However, young female, but not male, C57BL/6J mice are protected from HF diet–induced weight gain and metabolic alterations, including hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia (14). This is not specific to the C57BL/6J mouse strain because young female, but not male, rats are also protected from HF diet–induced metabolic alterations (15–17). The age when rodents are exposed to an HF diet influences the phenotype; weight gain for male mice fed an HF diet at weaning until 6 to 12 months, but not for male mice fed an HF diet from 8 to 30 weeks, is significantly different from age-matched control mice fed an LF diet (14).

Development of HF diet–induced obesity is progressive and has been divided into early, middle, and late stages (18). Surwit et al. (13) showed that after acute exposure (1 week) to an HF diet, mice do not significantly alter body weight, blood glucose, and insulin levels. However, long-term (24 weeks) on an HF diet induces obesity with hyperphagia and insulin resistance (13). HF diet–induced obesity is associated with activation of low-grade inflammation in the hypothalamus and in peripheral organs (19–21). This inflammatory response, which occurs in male but not female rodents (22–24), develops much more rapidly in the hypothalamus than in peripheral tissues and occurs prior to body weight gain (25). Burchfield et al. (26) observed a time-resolved deterioration in the function of a multitude of physiological systems as mice became obese feeding on an HF diet. Adaptation to an HF diet is clearly dynamic from the time that rodents first smell and taste the diet. This adaptation appears to be temperature-dependent because female mice, typically resistant to HF diet–induced obesity, develop obesity when housed at thermoneutrality (27).

In this study, we tested our hypothesis that desacetyl-α-MSH and α-MSH protect mice from chronic HF diet–induced obesity. Male and female Pomcwt/wt and Pomctm1/tm1 mice were fed LF (10 kcal percent fat) or moderately HF (45 kcal percent fat) diets from weaning for 23 weeks, while housed at 20°C. To assess the dynamic development of obesity, body weight and food intake were measured throughout this period. To assess sexually dimorphic obesity and associated metabolic alterations, body fat, glucose tolerance, and insulin sensitivity were measured after 16 weeks on diet. Body length, fat and organ weights, blood glucose, leptin, insulin, and adiponectin were measured after 23 weeks on diet. We also tested our hypothesis that either desacetyl-α-MSH or α-MSH can reverse chronic HF diet–induced obesity in Pomctm1/tm1 mice.

Materials and Methods

Generation of Pomcwt/wt and Pomctm1/tm1 mice

The mouse model with a targeted Pomc mutation that prevents production of desacetyl-α-MSH and α-MSH was developed previously (8). For this study, a Pomcwt/tm1 × Pomcwt/tm1 breeding colony was maintained and offspring were genotyped as previously described (8).

To compare the effects of LF and HF diets on Pomcwt/wt and Pomctm1/tm1 phenotypes, 10 Pomcwt/wt and 9 Pomctm1/tm1 breeding pairs were simultaneously paired to produce litters that were born during a 4-day period. All pups were weaned on the same day, and they were randomly assigned to one of eight groups: Pomcwt/wt male LF, Pomcwt/wt male HF, Pomctm1/tm1 male LF, Pomctm1/tm1 male HF, Pomcwt/wt female LF, Pomcwt/wt female HF, Pomctm1/tm1 female LF, and Pomctm1/tm1 female HF. Each group had three cages with four mice per cage. All mice in a single cage were derived from different mothers, and there were no more than three mice per group from the same mother.

To assess whether central administration of desacetyl-α-MSH or α-MSH can reverse male Pomctm1/tm1 obesity, further litters from the Pomctm1/tm1 breeders generated two independent cohorts of male Pomctm1/tm1 mice that were fed either LF or HF diets at weaning for 20 to 21 weeks, before undergoing central melanocortin peptide treatment.

Ethics and animal husbandry

All experimental procedures involving mice at the Vernon Jensen Animal Facility, University of Auckland, were approved by the Auckland University Animal Ethics Committee and conformed to the Animal Welfare Act 1999. Animals were housed on wood chip bedding and maintained at room temperature (20°C) with a 12-hour dark/12-hour light cycle (lights on at 0700 hours in a pathogen-free barrier facility). The breeding mice were fed regular chow (Teklad Global 18% protein rodent diet 2018; Harlan Laboratories, Madison, WI), and the study mice were fed either an LF diet (LF; Research Diets, New Brunswick, NJ; D12450Bi (10 kcal percent fat, 35% sucrose, 3.85 kcal/g)] or an HF diet [HF; Research Diets; D12451i (45 kcal percent fat, 17% sucrose, 4.73 kcal/g)].

Growth and development

Groups comprising Pomcwt/wt LF, Pomcwt/wt HF, Pomctm1/tm1 LF, and Pomctm1/tm1 HF of each sex were weighed at weaning and then four times per week for the next 35 days to assess the early adaptation response to diet. Following this, they were weighed from 35 days until 16 weeks postweaning (three cages per group) or 21 to 23 weeks postweaning (two cages per group) to assess longer-term adaptation to diet. Food intake was recorded for each cage on the days that body weights were recorded. Food intake was measured manually by weighing the food for each cage and then the intake averaged per cage for each day or week. Prior to weighing the food, partly digested food pellets were retrieved from inside the cage and these were included in the food weight.

Feed efficiency

Energy intake (kilocalories), body weight gained, and feed efficiency (gram body weight gained per kilocalorie energy consumed × 100) were determined for young mice during rapid growth (2 to 4 weeks postweaning) and for older mature mice (12 to 14 weeks postweaning).

Glucose tolerance tests and insulin tolerance tests

All mice in one cage from each group underwent glucose tolerance tests (GTTs) at 16 weeks postweaning and insulin tolerance tests (ITTs) at 17 weeks postweaning. Mice were fasted overnight (∼16 hours) and then injected with 1 g/kg body weight glucose (20% dextrose; Health Support, Auckland, New Zealand) IP for a GTT or injected IP with 0.5 U/kg body weight insulin (human recombinant; Roche Diagnostics) for an ITT. Tail vein blood was assayed for glucose at time 0 and then at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 minutes after glucose or insulin administration using an Accu-Chek blood glucose meter.

Body composition

MRI analysis was conducted at ∼20 weeks postweaning on all mice that underwent GTTs and ITTs. MRI was used to assess body composition of Pomcwt/wt and Pomctm1/tm1 mice. MRI was performed using a 4.7 Tesla horizontal bore magnet interfaced with a UNITY INOVA spectrometer (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA) using a three-point Dixon acquisition, as previously described (8). These mice were euthanized following MRI without having blood or tissues collected.

Blood glucose, body length, tail length, and fat pad and organ weights

All mice in the remaining two cages from each group were euthanized between 21 and 23 weeks postweaning. Fasting blood was collected from mice prior to euthanization. Blood glucose was measured on tail vein blood using an Accu-Chek blood glucose meter (Roche Diagnostics). Blood collected using Goldenrod animal lancets (MEDIpoint International, Mineola, NY) was added to ice-cold EDTA Microtainer tubes and centrifuged at 4000g for 10 minutes at 4°C. Plasma was then transferred to low-bind Eppendorf tubes and used to measure insulin, leptin, and adiponectin levels.

Mouse body and tail lengths were recorded. Fat pads and organs were dissected and weighed prior to either fixation in formalin or 4% paraformaldehyde, or snap freezing on dry ice.

Plasma insulin, leptin, and adiponectin measurements

Plasma insulin and leptin were measured using a Milliplex MAP kit with a mouse metabolic magnetic bead panel [catalog no. MMHMAG-44K (28), Millipore Corporation, Bedford, MA]. Plasma insulin was also measured by ELISA [catalog no. EZRMI-13K (29), Millipore Corporation]. Adiponectin was measured using a Milliplex MAP kit mouse adiponectin magnetic bead panel single plex [catalog no. MADPNMAG-70K-0 (30), Millipore Corporation]. Mean interassay and intra-assay coefficient of variation (CV) values for an insulin or leptin Milliplex MAP kit are 7% and 5%, respectively, and the assay standards range from 0.069 ng/mL to 50 ng/mL. Mean interassay and intra-assay CV values for insulin ELISA are 18% and 8%, respectively, and the assay standards range from 0.2 ng/mL to 10 ng/mL. Mean interassay and intra-assay CV values for an adiponectin Milliplex MAP kit are 11% and 3%, respectively, and the assay standards range from 12.2 pg/mL to 12,500 pg/mL.

Fat cell size

Retroperitoneal, visceral, subcutaneous, and gonadal adipocyte sizes were determined using semiautomated morphometry with two ×20 images of hematoxylin and eosin–stained paraffin sections (10 μm) for each tissue sample. Images were captured on a Zeiss Axioskop 2 microscope. Adipocytes (69 to 475 cells per tissue) were analyzed using ImageJ (31).

Central melanocortin peptide treatment

Saline vehicle (control), α-MSH, or desacetyl-α-MSH was administered centrally to male Pomctm1/tm1 mice continuously during 14 days using Alzet® osmotic mini pumps (model 1002; Bio-Scientific, Kirrawee, NSW, Australia) and a method previously described (8). The mice aged ∼21 to 22 weeks at the start of treatment were fed LF or HF diets from weaning. α-MSH and desacetyl-α-MSH were purchased from Bachem (Bubendorf, Switzerland). The pumps delivered 5 μg of either peptide/25 g of mouse body weight/d, a dose that we previously showed consistently and significantly reduces male or female Pomctm1/tm1 body weight (8). Mice were group housed (three to six mice per cage), and all mice in each cage received vehicle, desacetyl-α-MSH, or α-MSH. The experiment was repeated twice with independent cohorts of mice. Individual body weights and food intake for each cage were monitored daily. All mice were euthanized at 14 days of treatment, and nonfasting blood was collected from mice prior to euthanization. Mouse body and tail lengths were recorded. Fat pads and organs were dissected and weighed prior to either fixation in formalin or 4% paraformaldehyde, or snap freezing on dry ice.

Statistical analysis

GraphPad Prism 6 software (GraphPad Software, San Diego, CA) was used to perform all statistical analyses. Two-way repeated or nonrepeated measures ANOVA with a Tukey, Dunnett, or Sidak post hoc analysis was used to compare the effects of LF and HF diets on Pomcwt/wt and Pomctm1/tm1 phenotypes (body weight and food intake). GTT and ITT significant differences were determined using two-way or one-way (area under the curve) ANOVA and a Tukey post hoc test. Significant differences for percent body fat, blood glucose, insulin, leptin, adiponectin, fad pad weight, organ weights, and fat cell size were determined using two-way ANOVA and a Tukey post hoc test. Significant differences between groups administered saline, desacetyl-α-MSH, or α-MSH were determined using two-way repeated measures ANOVA and Dunnett post hoc analysis. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Data are presented as mean ± SEM.

Results

An HF diet exacerbates male and female Pomctm1/tm1 mouse growth, but only exacerbates male Pomcwt/wt mouse growth

Genotype and diet affect body weight of male mice, with diet influencing body weight at an earlier age than genotype. Body weights for male Pomcwt/wt and Pomctm1/tm1 mice fed an HF diet were significantly greater beginning at 7 days (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively), compared with an LF diet [Fig. 1A; an online repository (32)]. Body weights for male Pomctm1/tm1 mice were significantly greater than were body weights for Pomcwt/wt mice beginning 16 days (P < 0.05) and 25 days (P < 0.05) after feeding an LF or HF diet, respectively (Fig. 1A) (32). The increased male body weights associated with genotype or diet continued to increase during 16 weeks (Fig. 1B) (32).

Figure 1.

An HF diet exacerbates male and female Pomctm1/tm1 mouse increased growth and obesity whereas Pomcwt/wt mice exhibit sexually dimorphic HF diet–induced growth and obesity. (A and B) Male body weight. (C and D) Female body weight. (A and C) Body weights were assessed every 3 d for the first 35 d of an LF or HF diet from weaning. Data are shown as mean ± SEM (n = 12). Significant differences for body weights were determined using a two-way repeated measures ANOVA. F statistics and Sidak post hoc analysis data are shown in an online repository (32) and Table 2. (B and D) Body weights were assessed weekly during 16 wk of an LF or HF diet from weaning. Data are shown as mean ± SEM (n = 12). Significant differences for body weights were determined using a two-way repeated measures ANOVA. F statistics and Sidak post hoc analysis data are shown in an online repository (32) and Table 2. (E, G, and I) Male phenotype. (F, H, and J) Female phenotype. (E and F) Body length was measured at 21 to 23 wk for mice fed an LF or HF diet from weaning. Data are shown as mean ± SEM (n = 7 to 8). Significant differences were determined using a two-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc test. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001. (G and H) Percentage body fat was calculated from six MRI Dixon images per mouse. Data are shown as mean ± SEM (n = 3 to 4). Representative images are shown in an online repository (32). Significant differences were determined using a two-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc test. *P < 0.05; ***P < 0.001. (I and J) Fasting plasma leptin measured using a Milliplex MAP kit assay at 21 to 23 wk for mice fed an LF or HF diet from weaning. Data are shown as mean ± SEM (n = 5 to 8). Significant differences were determined using a two-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc test. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001.

Table 2.

Energy Consumed, Body Weight, and Feed Efficiency for Female Pomcwt/wt and Pomctm1/tm1 Mice

	Pomc wt/wt LF	Pomc wt/wt HF	Pomc tm1/tm1 LF	Pomc tm1/tm1 HF
Fourteen to 28 d postweaning
Energy consumed, kcal	52.6 ± 0.31	57.56 ± 0.66a	54.20 ± 0.38	64.36 ± 0.67b,c
Body weight gained, g	0.84 ± 0.39	0.86 ± 0.17	1.08 ± 0.10	1.90 ± 0.26
% Feed efficiency (g body weight gained/kcal consumed × 100)	1.60 ± 0.76	1.48 ± 0.27	1.99 ± 0.18	2.94 ± 0.37
Energy intake on day 28 (kcal/mouse/d)	9.62 ± 0.10	9.73 ± 0.13	9.18 ± 0.40	10.74 ± 0.27b
Body weight at 28 d, g	17.98 ± 0.19	17.75 ± 0.19	18.81 ± 0.24	20.60 ± 0.45b,c
Twelve to 14 wk postweaning
Energy consumed, kcal	145.13 ± 3.52	167.91 ± 2.80a	148.13 ± 1.95	172.20 ± 5.09b
Body weight gained, g	0.87 ± 0.11	1.02 ± 0.06	0.31 ± 0.19	1.81 ± 0.48b
% Feed efficiency (g body weight gained/kcal consumed × 100)	0.60 ± 0.08	0.61 ± 0.03	0.20 ± 0.12	1.04 ± 0.27
Energy intake at week 14 (kcal/mouse/wk)	72.43 ± 0.79	82.32 ± 2.36a	74.23 ± 0.57	84.57 ± 2.36b
Body weight at 14 wk, g	21.26 ± 0.35	22.15 ± 0.19	23.76 ± 0.71	29.17 ± 1.04b,c

Energy consumed, body weight gained, and percentage feed efficiency were calculated for mice fed either an LF or HF diet from weaning. Data were calculated for a period of rapid growth (14 to 28 d postweaning) and at maturity (12 to 14 wk postweaning) and are shown as mean ± SEM for three cages, each housing four mice. Significant differences were determined using a two-way ANOVA and Tukey multiple comparison test.

Pomc wt/wt LF vs Pomcwt/wt HF (P < 0.01, energy consumed 14 to 28 d; P < 0.05, energy consumed 12 to 14 wk).

Pomc tm1/tm1 LF vs Pomctm1/tm1 HF (P < 0.0001, energy consumed 14 to 28 d; P < 0.05, body weight at 28 d and energy intake at day 28, energy consumed and body weight gained 12 to 14 wk, energy intake at 14 wk; P < 0.01, body weight at 14 wk).

Pomc wt/wt HF vs Pomctm1/tm1 HF (P < 0.001, energy consumed 14 to 28 d, body weight at 14 wk; P < 0.01, body weight at 28 d).

Genotype affected growth of female mice, but in contrast to male mice, the diet effect was dependent on genotype and the genotype effect occurred earlier (∼11 days) (P < 0.05) on an HF diet compared with an LF diet (∼5 weeks) (P < 0.05) (Fig. 1C and 1D) (32). However, this early genotype effect was likely a result of female Pomcwt/wt mice being resistant to HF diet–induced increased body growth, similar to observations reported by others (14). Body weights for female Pomctm1/tm1 mice fed an HF diet were significantly greater beginning at 28 days (P < 0.05) compared with mice fed an LF diet (Fig. 1C). The increased female body weights associated with genotype or diet continued to gradually increase during 16 weeks (Fig. 1D) (32).

An HF diet exacerbates female Pomctm1/tm1 mouse increased body length and induces a similar trend for male Pomctm1/tm1 mice, and an HF diet significantly induces male Pomcwt/wt increased body length and induces a similar trend for female Pomcwt/wt mice

Our data support previous observations showing that both melanocortin obesity and HF diet–induced obesity in C57BL6/J mice are associated with increased mouse linear growth (8, 20). Similar to our previous observations (8), male Pomctm1/tm1 mice were 3.9% longer than male Pomcwt/wt mice (P < 0.01) when fed an LF diet (Fig. 1E). An HF diet induced a significant 3.6% increase in body length for male Pomcwt/wt mice (P < 0.05), as well as a trend for increased body length for male Pomctm1/tm1 mice (Fig. 1E). Similar to our previous observations (8), female Pomctm1/tm1 mice were 4.5% longer than female Pomcwt/wt mice (P < 0.05) when mice were fed an LF diet (Fig. 1F). An HF diet exacerbated the female Pomctm1/tm1 increased body length to 6.8% longer than female Pomcwt/wt mice (P < 0.001), and there appeared to be a trend for an HF diet to increase female Pomcwt/wt body length (Fig. 1F). An HF diet did not affect tail length for male or female Pomcwt/wt or Pomctm1/tm1 mice.

An HF diet exacerbates male and female Pomctm1/tm1 mouse obesity

Quantitative MRI analysis at ∼17 weeks postweaning on mice fed an HF diet compared with an LF diet revealed that an HF diet induced significant increases in fat mass in male and female Pomctm1/tm1 mice (P < 0.05) (Fig. 1G and 1H) (32). HF diet–induced increased fat mass was also significant for male Pomcwt/wt mice using an unpaired t test (P < 0.05). Male (P < 0.05) and female (P < 0.001) Pomctm1/tm1 mice had significantly increased body fat compared with Pomcwt/wt mice when they were fed an HF diet, and female Pomctm1/tm1 mice had significantly increased fat mass compared with female Pomcwt/wt mice (P < 0.05) when mice were fed an LF diet (Fig. 1G and 1H). There was an apparent trend for male Pomctm1/tm1 mice to show increased body fat compared with Pomcwt/wt for mice fed an LF diet (Fig. 1G).

The HF diet–induced increased fat masses are reflected in increased fasting plasma leptin. An HF diet significantly increased fasting plasma leptin levels for male Pomcwt/wt (P < 0.05), male Pomctm1/tm1 (P < 0.01), and female Pomctm1/tm1 (P < 0.01) mice compared with respective mice fed an LF diet (Fig. 1I and 1J). Fasting plasma leptin for female Pomctm1/tm1 mice compared with Pomcwt/wt mice fed an HF diet was significantly increased (P < 0.0001), but significance was not reached for male Pomctm1/tm1 mice compared with Pomcwt/wt mice fed an HF diet.

Increases in adipose tissue depot masses reflect HF diet exacerbation of male and female Pomctm1/tm1 mouse obesity, as well as HF diet–induced male Pomcwt/wt mouse obesity

Depot-specific fat storage impacts comorbidities associated with obesity (33). To determine whether the HF diet exacerbation of Pomctm1/tm1 mouse obesity and/or Pomctm1/tm1 mouse obesity are associated with depot-specific fat storage, specific adipose tissue depots were dissected, weighed, and cell size was quantitated. HF diet exacerbation of male and female Pomctm1/tm1 mouse obesity was associated with significantly increased retroperitoneal, visceral, subcutaneous, gonadal, and brown fat weights (Fig. 2A–2J). In contrast, HF diet–induced male Pomcwt/wt mouse obesity was associated with significantly increased retroperitoneal, subcutaneous, and gonadal fat weights, but not with visceral and brown fat weights (Fig. 2A–2E). As expected, an HF diet did not significantly affect any fat pad weights for HF diet–resistant female Pomcwt/wt mice (Fig. 2F–2J).

Figure 2.

An HF diet compared with an LF diet increases male and female Pomctm1/tm1 mouse retroperitoneal, visceral, subcutaneous, gonadal, and brown adipose tissue, specifically increases male Pomcwt/wt retroperitoneal, subcutaneous, and gonadal adipose tissue, and has no effect on female Pomcwt/wt adipose tissue mass. (A–E) Male and (F–J) female Pomcwt/wt and Pomctm1/tm1 adipose tissue weights. Retroperitoneal, visceral, subcutaneous, gonadal, and brown fat levels measured at 21 to 23 wk postweaning for mice fed either an LF or HF diet from weaning are shown. Data are shown as mean ± SEM (n = 7 to 8). Significant differences were determined using a two-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc test. **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001; ****P < 0.0001.

In contrast to similar HF diet effects on male and female Pomctm1/tm1 fat depot masses, genotype effects on fat pad depot weights appeared to be sexually dimorphic. Male Pomctm1/tm1 mice compared with Pomcwt/wt mice had significantly increased visceral, subcutaneous, and brown adipose depots when fed an HF diet (Fig. 2B, 2C, and 2E), with no significant differences observed for retroperitoneal or gonadal adipose tissue depot weights (Fig. 2A and 2D). In contrast, female Pomctm1/tm1 mice compared with Pomcwt/wt mice had significantly increased retroperitoneal, visceral, subcutaneous, gonadal, and brown fat depot weights when fed an HF diet (Fig. 2F–2J). Hence, an HF diet and genotype appeared to differentially increase male Pomctm1/tm1 mouse fat depot masses, whereas an HF diet and genotype similarly increased all female Pomctm1/tm1 mouse adipose tissue depot weights.

Diet and genotype also differentially affect male adipose tissue cell size. An HF diet compared with an LF diet significantly increased male Pomcwt/wt retroperitoneal fat cell size (LF, 1520 ± 212 vs HF, 3775 ± 345; P < 0.05) but not subcutaneous fat cell size (LF, 982 ± 117; HF, 893 ± 260). An HF diet did not significantly affect male Pomctm1/tm1 retroperitoneal (LF, 2861 ± 142 vs HF, 2718 ± 765) or subcutaneous (LF, 1060 ± 161 vs HF, 2168 ± 424) fat cell size. However, the Pomctm1/tm1 genotype significantly increased male subcutaneous fat cell size (Pomcwt/wt HF, 893 ± 260 vs Pomctm1/tm1 HF, 2168 ± 424, P < 0.05) but not male retroperitoneal fat cell size (Pomcwt/wt HF, 3775 ± 345 vs Pomctm1/tm1 HF, 2718 ± 765) compared with Pomcwt/wt mice, when mice were fed an HF diet. Overall, an HF diet appeared to favor increasing retroperitoneal over subcutaneous fat cell size for male Pomcwt/wt mice, whereas the male Pomctm1/tm1 genotype appeared to favor increasing subcutaneous over retroperitoneal fat cell size. These data support potential differences in fat storage location for diet- and genotype-driven obesity in male mice.

Chronic HF diet–exacerbated male and female Pomctm1/tm1 mouse obesity is not a result of HF diet–exacerbated hyperphagia

We measured food intake to determine whether HF diet–induced hyperphagia contributes to HF diet exacerbation of Pomctm1/tm1 mouse obesity (Fig. 3A–3F). An acute HF diet is well known to stimulate an increase in grams of food eaten for rodents (3, 34, 35), and we observed this for male and female Pomcwt/wt and Pomctm1/tm1 mice previously (8). Male and female Pomcwt/wt and Pomctm1/tm1 mice ate significantly more grams of food for the first 2 days after an HF diet was introduced compared with an LF diet (Fig. 3A and 3D) (32). However, 4 days after diet was introduced and for the next 16 weeks, the grams of food eaten by male Pomcwt/wt mice fed either an LF or HF diet were similar, as were the grams of food eaten by male Pomctm1/tm1 mice fed either an LF or HF diet (Fig. 3B and 3C) (32). In contrast, genotype significantly affected male food intake independent of diet. Male Pomctm1/tm1 mice ate significantly more grams of food compared with male Pomcwt/wt mice when fed either an LF or HF diet (Fig. 3B and 3C) (32).

Figure 3.

A chronic HF diet compared with an LF diet does not exacerbate hyperphagia in male or female Pomcwt/wt or Pomctm1/tm1 mice but reduces grams of food eaten by female Pomcwt/wt and Pomctm1/tm1 mice. (A–C) Male food intake. (D–F) Female food intake. (A and D) Grams of food eaten for the first 2 d after diet introduced at weaning for 12 Pomcwt/wt mice (three cages) and 12 Pomctm1/tm1 mice (three cages). Data are shown as mean ± SEM (n = 3) and significant differences were determined using a two-way ANOVA and Sidak post hoc analysis. **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001. (B and E) Average food intake per cage per day during 35 d is shown for 12 male (three cages) and 12 female (three cages) mice fed either an LF or HF diet. Data are shown as mean ± SEM (n = 3). Significant differences for food intake were determined using a two-way repeated measures ANOVA. F statistics and Sidak post hoc analysis data are shown in an online repository (32). (C and F) Average food intake per cage per day during 16 wk is shown for 12 male (three cages) and 12 female (three cages) mice fed either an LF or HF diet. Data are shown as mean ± SEM (n = 3). Significant differences for food intake were determined using a two-way repeated measures ANOVA. F statistics and Sidak post hoc analysis data are shown in an online repository (32).

In contrast with male mice, a chronic HF diet reduced grams of food eaten by both female Pomcwt/wt and Pomctm1/tm1 mice, compared with an LF diet (Fig. 3E and 3F) (32). This reduction in food eaten was greater for Pomcwt/wt compared with Pomctm1/tm1 mice, and this explains why female Pomctm1/tm1 mice are hyperphagic compared with Pomcwt/wt mice. Female Pomctm1/tm1 mice ate significantly more grams of food compared with female Pomcwt/wt mice, but only when mice were fed an HF diet (Fig. 3E and 3F) (32).

Feed efficiency is not altered by Pomctm1/tm1 obesity or chronic HF diet exacerbation of Pomctm1/tm1 mouse obesity

Feed efficiency (body weight gained per kilocalorie consumed) was not significantly different between Pomcwt/wt and Pomctm1/tm1 mice for males (Table 1) or females (Table 2) during rapid growth (14 to 28 days postweaning) or for mature mice (12 to 14 weeks postweaning). Feed efficiency was also not significantly different between LF and HF diet–fed Pomcwt/wt or Pomctm1/tm1 male or female mice (Tables 1 and 2).

Table 1.

Energy Consumed, Body Weight, and Feed Efficiency for Male Pomcwt/wt and Pomctm1/tm1 Mice

	Pomc wt/wt LF	Pomc wt/wt HF	Pomc tm1/tm1 LF	Pomc tm1/tm1 HF
Fourteen to 28 d postweaning
Energy consumed, kcal	61.78 ± 0.26	75.48 ± 2.41a	69.01 ± 0.36	82.39 ± 1.78b
Body weight gained, g	3.59 ± 0.05	4.16 ± 0.11	4.47 ± 0.45	5.15 ± 0.28
% Feed efficiency (g body weight gained/kcal consumed × 100)	5.81 ± 0.06	5.52 ± 0.07	6.47 ± 0.63	6.23 ± 0.21
Energy intake on day 28 (kcal/mouse/d)	10.41 ± 0.08	12.52 ± 0.50a	11.65 ± 0.30	13.62 ± 0.33b
Body weight at 28 d, g	22.42 ± 0.31	25.58 ± 0.65a	24.88 ± 0.16c	27.66 ± 0.22b
Twelve to 14 wk postweaning
Energy consumed, kcal	165.77 ± 4.46	193.57 ± 4.54a	174.20 ± 0.66	210.85 ± 2.48b
Body weight gained, g	1.32 ± 0.15	1.95 ± 0.38	1.49 ± 0.18	2.50 ± 0.27
% Feed efficiency (g body weight gained/kcal consumed × 100)	0.79 ± 0.08	1.01 ± 0.19	0.85 ± 0.10	1.19 ± 0.13
Energy intake at week 14 (kcal/mouse/wk)	82.07 ± 2.48	96.56 ± 3.26a	86.97 ± 1.21	104.26 ± 1.46b
Body weight at 14 wk, g	29.82 ± 0.19	36.63 ± 1.15a	33.17 ± 0.30	43.62 ± 0.42b,d

Energy consumed, body weight gained, and percentage feed efficiency were calculated for mice fed either an LF or HF diet from weaning. Data were calculated for a period of rapid growth (14 to 28 d postweaning) and at maturity (12 to 14 wk postweaning) and are shown as mean ± SEM for three cages, each housing four mice. Significant differences were determined using a two-way ANOVA and Tukey multiple comparison test.

Pomc wt/wt LF vs Pomcwt/wt HF (P < 0.01, energy consumed 14 to 28 d, body weight at 28 d, energy consumed 12 to 14 wk, body weight at 14 wk; P < 0.05, energy intake at day 28, energy intake at 14 wk).

Pomc tm1/tm1 LF vs Pomctm1/tm1 HF (P < 0.01, energy consumed 14 to 28 d, energy consumed 12 to 14 wk, energy intake at 14 wk; P < 0.05, body weight at 28 d and energy intake at day 28; P < 0.0001, body weight at 14 wk).

Pomc wt/wt LF vs Pomctm1/tm1 LF (P < 0.05, body weight at 28 d).

Pomc wt/wt HF vs Pomctm1/tm1 HF (P < 0.01, body weight at 14 wk).

Increased energy intake fully accounts for increased young, but not older, male and not for young or older female Pomctm1/tm1 mouse body weight compared with Pomcwt/wt mice

For mice at 28 days postweaning, energy intake and body weight for male Pomctm1/tm1 mice significantly increased compared with Pomcwt/wt mice by 11.9% (11.65 ± 0.30 vs 10.41 ± 0.08 kcal/mouse/d; P < 0.01) and 11.0% (24.88 ± 0.16 vs 22.42 ± 0.31 g; P < 0.05), respectively, when mice were fed an LF diet and by 8.8% (13.62 ± 0.33 vs 12.52 ± 0.50 kcal/mouse/d; P < 0.01) and 8.1% (27.66 ± 0.22 vs 25.58 ± 0.65 g; P < 0.05), respectively, when mice were fed an HF diet (Table 1). However, for older male mice at 14 weeks postweaning, energy intake and body weight for Pomctm1/tm1 mice increased compared with Pomcwt/wt mice by 6.0% [86.97 ± 1.21 vs 82.07 ± 2.48 kcal/mouse/wk; not significant (NS)] and 11.2% (33.17 ± 0.30 vs 29.82 ± 0.19 g; NS), respectively, when mice were fed an LF diet and by 8.0% (104.26 ± 1.46 vs 96.56 ± 3.26 kcal/mouse/wk; P < 0.01) and 19.1% (43.62 ± 0.42 vs 36.63 ± 1.15 g; P < 0.01), respectively, when mice were fed an HF diet (Table 1). There were no significant differences for feed efficiency.

For female mice at 28 days postweaning, energy intake and body weight for Pomctm1/tm1 mice were not significantly different from Pomcwt/wt mice when mice were fed an LF diet, but energy intake and body weight for Pomctm1/tm1 mice compared with Pomcwt/wt mice fed an HF diet significantly increased by 10.4% (10.74 ± 0.27 vs 9.73 ± 0.13 kcal/mouse/d; NS) and 16.1% (20.60 ± 0.45 vs 17.75 ± 0.19 g; P < 0.001), respectively (Table 2). For older female mice (14 weeks postweaning), energy intake and body weight for Pomctm1/tm1 mice increased compared with Pomcwt/wt mice by 2.5% (74.23 ± 0.57 vs 72.43 ± 0.79 kcal/mouse/wk; NS) and 11.8% (23.76 ± 0.71 vs 21.26 ± 0.35 g; NS), respectively, when mice were fed an LF diet and by 2.7% (84.57 ± 2.36 vs 82.32 ± 2.36 kcal/mouse/wk; NS) and 31.7% (29.17 ± 1.04 vs 22.15 ± 0.19 g; P < 0.001), respectively, when mice were fed an HF diet (Table 2).

Increased energy intake exceeds increased body weight gained for HF diet–induced young male Pomcwt/wt mouse obesity and for HF diet–exacerbated young male and female Pomctm1/tm1 mouse obesity

For male Pomcw mice 28 days postweaning, energy intake and body weight significantly increased for HF compared with LF diet–fed mice by 20.3% (12.52 ± 0.50 vs 10.41 ± 0.08 kcal/mouse/d; P < 0.01) and 14.1% (25.58 ± 0.65 vs 22.42 ± 0.31 g; P < 0.01), respectively, whereas energy intake and body weight for male Pomctm1/tm1 mice fed an HF diet compared with an LF diet significantly increased by 16.9% (13.62 ± 0.33 vs 11.65 ± 0.30 kcal/mouse/d; P < 0.01) and 11.2% (27.66 ± 0.22 vs 24.88 ± 0.16 g; P < 0.01), respectively (Table 1).

For female Pomctm1/tm1 mice at 28 days postweaning, energy intake and body weight significantly increased for HF compared with LF diet–fed mice by 17.0% (10.74 ± 0.27 vs 9.18 kcal/mouse/d; P < 0.0001) and 9.5% (20.60 ± 0.45 vs 18.81 ± 0.24 g; P < 0.0001), respectively. Energy intake and body weight were not different for female Pomcwt/wt mice fed an LF or HF diet at 28 days postweaning (Table 2).

Increased body weight gained exceeds increased energy intake for HF diet–induced older male Pomcwt/wt mouse obesity and for HF diet–exacerbated older male and female Pomctm1/tm1 mouse obesity

For older male Pomcw mice at 14 weeks postweaning, energy intake and body weight for HF compared with LF diet–fed mice significantly increased by 17.7% (96.56 ± 3.26 vs 82.07 ± 2.48 kcal/mouse/wk; P < 0.01) and 22.8% (36.63 ± 1.15 vs 29.82 ± 0.19 g; P < 0.01), respectively, whereas energy intake and body weight for male Pomctm1/tm1 mice fed an HF diet compared with an LF diet significantly increased 19.9% (104.26 ± 1.46 vs 86.97 ± 1.21 kcal/mouse/wk; P < 0.01) and 31.5% (43.62 ± 0.42 vs 33.17 ± 0.30 g; P < 0.01), respectively (Table 1).

For older female Pomcw mice at 14 weeks postweaning, energy intake for HF compared with LF diet–fed mice significantly increased by 13.7% (82.32 ± 2.36 vs 72.43 ± 0.79 kcal/mouse/wk; P < 0.01) whereas body weight (22.15 ± 0.19 vs 21.26 ± 0.35 g) did not increase (Table 2). For older female Pomctm1/tm1 mice at 14 weeks postweaning, energy intake for HF compared with LF diet–fed mice significantly increased by 13.9% (84.57 ± 2.36 vs 74.23 ± 0.57 kcal/mouse/d; P < 0.0001) whereas body weight significantly increased 22.8% (29.17 ± 1.04 vs 23.76 ± 0.71 g; P < 0.0001) (Table 2).

Male and female Pomctm1/tm1 mice compared with Pomcwt/wt mice have significantly larger abdominal organs when mice are fed an HF diet

Pomc tm1/tm1 mice have significantly increased abdominal organ weights compared with Pomcwt/wt mice, but only when they are chronically fed HF diet. Male Pomctm1/tm1 compared with Pomcwt/wt mice had significantly increased heart (P < 0.05), liver (P < 0.01), pancreas (P < 0.001), and spleen (P < 0.05) weights (32). Similarly, female Pomctm1/tm1 mice compared with Pomcwt/wt mice exhibited significantly increased liver (P < 0.001) and spleen (P < 0.05) weights (32).

An HF diet induces increased male Pomctm1/tm1 mouse heart, liver, and pancreas weights and female Pomctm1/tm1 mouse pancreas weights

Chronic HF diet–induced increases in male and female Pomctm1/tm1 mouse body weight compared with Pomcwt/wt mice are not only a result of increased fat mass but also increased mass for several abdominal organ weights. A chronic HF diet compared with an LF diet significantly increased male Pomctm1/tm1 heart (P < 0.05), liver (P < 0.05), and pancreas (P < 0.001) weights (32). Similarly, a chronic HF diet compared with an LF diet significantly increased female Pomctm1/tm1 pancreas weight (P < 0.05). In contrast, an HF diet did not significantly increase the weights for these organs in male or female Pomcwt/wt mice (32). Brain, stomach, and kidney weights were not affected by an HF diet for male or female Pomcwt/wt and female Pomctm1/tm1 mice compared with an LF diet.

A chronic HF diet exacerbates hyperglycemia in male but not female Pomctm1/tm1 mice, without altering fasting plasma insulin or adiponectin, and a chronic HF diet reduces plasma adiponectin only in female Pomcwt/wt mice

An HF diet compared with an LF diet significantly increased fasting blood glucose in male Pomctm1/tm1 mice but not in male Pomcwt/wt mice (P < 0.01) (Fig. 4A). Fasting blood glucose was significantly increased for male Pomctm1/tm1 male mice compared with male Pomcwt/wt mice, but only when they were fed an HF diet (P < 0.01) (Fig. 4A). Female Pomctm1/tm1 mice did not exhibit increased fasting blood glucose levels compared with female Pomcwt/wt mice when fed either an LF or HF diet (Fig. 4B).

Figure 4.

A chronic HF diet exacerbates hyperglycemia in male, but not female, Pomctm1/tm1 mice and reduces plasma adiponectin while inducing insulin resistance in female Pomcwt/wt mice, but not in male or female Pomctm1/tm1 mice. (A–D) Fasting (A and B) blood glucose and (C and D) plasma adiponectin measured at 21 to 23 wk postweaning for (A and C) male and (B and D) female mice fed either an LF or HF diet from weaning. Data are shown as mean ± SEM (n = 5 to 8). Significant differences were determined using a two-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc test. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01. (E, F, I, and J) GTTs and (G, H, K, and L) ITTs were performed on (E, F, G, and H) male and (I, J, K, and L) female mice aged 17 to 18 wk. GTTs and ITTs were performed on the same mice with 1 wk between tests. Data are shown as mean ± SEM (n = 3 to 4). Significant differences for area under the curve were determined using a one-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc test. *P < 0.05.

Fasting plasma insulin was not significantly affected by an HF diet compared with an LF diet for either male Pomcwt/wt or male Pomctm1/tm1 mice (32). Furthermore, fasting plasma insulin was not significantly different between male Pomcwt/wt and Pomctm1/tm1 mice fed either an LF or HF diet (32). Fasting plasma insulin measured for female Pomcwt/wt and Pomctm1/tm1 mice on an LF or HF diet was undetectable in both ELISA and Milliplex MAP kit.

Fasting plasma adiponectin was not significantly affected by an HF compared with an LF diet for either male Pomcwt/wt or male Pomctm1/tm1 mice (Fig. 4C). In contrast with males, an HF diet compared with an LF diet significantly reduced fasting plasma adiponectin in female Pomcwt/wt mice (P < 0.01) without having any effect on female Pomctm1/tm1 mice (Fig. 4D). This likely explains why female Pomctm1/tm1 mice fed an HF diet had significantly increased adiponectin levels compared with female Pomcwt/wt mice fed an HF diet (P < 0.05) (Fig. 4D).

A chronic HF diet induces glucose intolerance in male Pomctm1/tm1 mice, but not in male Pomcwt/wt, female Pomcwt/wt, or female Pomctm1/tm1 mice, and a chronic HF diet induces insulin resistance in female Pomcwt/wt mice, but not in male Pomcwt/wt, male Pomctm1/tm1, or female Pomctm1/tm1 mice

A chronic HF diet induced impaired GTTs (P < 0.05) in male Pomctm1/tm1 mice compared with male Pomcwt/wt mice (Fig. 4E and 4F) with no significant effect on ITTs (Fig. 4G and 4H). In contrast to males, GTTs and ITTs in female Pomctm1/tm1 mice were not significantly different from GTTs or ITTs in female Pomcwt/wt mice when mice were fed either an LF or HF diet (Fig. 4I, 4J, 4K, and 4L). Surprisingly, although female Pomcwt/wt mice are resistant to weight gain when fed an HF diet, there were significantly impaired ITTs in female Pomcwt/wt mice but not in female Pomctm1/tm1 mice fed an HF diet, compared with female Pomcwt/wt mice fed an LF diet (P < 0.05) (Fig. 4K and 4L).

Desacetyl-α-MSH or α-MSH administered centrally reduces male Pomctm1/tm1 mouse body weight and fat mass when mice are fed an HF or LF diet

Body weight of male Pomctm1/tm1 mice fed an LF diet from weaning was significantly reduced by ∼11% to 12% following 14 days of continuous intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of either 5 μg of desacetyl-α-MSH/25 g of mouse body weight/d or 5 μg of α-MSH/25 g of mouse body weight/d, compared with vehicle-treated age-matched control Pomctm1/tm1 mice (P < 0.0001) (Fig. 5A). Body weight of male Pomctm1/tm1 mice fed an HF diet from weaning was significantly reduced by ∼13% and ∼19% following 14 days of continuous ICV administration of either 5 μg of desacetyl-α-MSH/25 g of mouse body weight/d or 5 μg of α-MSH/25 g of mouse body weight/d, respectively, compared with vehicle-treated, age-matched control Pomctm1/tm1 mice (P < 0.0001) (Fig. 5A).

Figure 5.

Central α-MSH or desacetyl-α-MSH treatment reduces male Pomctm1/tm1 mouse body weight and fat mass when mice are fed either an LF or HF diet. (A) ICV administration of α-MSH or desacetyl-α-MSH compared with vehicle treatment reduces male Pomctm1/tm1 mouse body weight when mice are fed either an LF or HF diet. The ages and body weights of the mice at the start of treatment are shown in an online repository (32). Vehicle or peptide dose (5 μg/25 g mouse body weight on day 1/d) was continuously administered during 14 d. Combined data are shown as mean ± SEM for two independent experiments. Significant differences were determined using a two-way repeated measures ANOVA and Dunnett post hoc analysis. Vehicle LF vs α-MSH LF, vehicle LF vs desacetyl-α-MSH LF, vehicle HF vs α-MSH HF, and vehicle HF vs desacetyl-α-MSH HF are shown. ****P < 0.0001. Significant differences not shown are day 2, vehicle LF vs desacetyl-α-MSH LF (P < 0.05); day 3, vehicle LF vs α-MSH LF (P < 0.01) or desacetyl-α-MSH LF (P < 0.05) and vehicle HF vs α-MSH HF (P < 0.05); day 4, vehicle LF vs α-MSH LF (P < 0.001) or desacetyl-α-MSH LF (P < 0.01) and vehicle HF vs α-MSH HF (P < 0.001) or desacetyl-α-MSH HF (P < 0.05); day 5, vehicle LF vs α-MSH LF (P < 0.0001) or desacetyl-α-MSH (P < 0.001) and vehicle HF vs α-MSH HF (P < 0.0001) or desacetyl-α-MSH HF (P < 0.01); and day 6, vehicle LF vs α-MSH LF (P < 0.0001) or desacetyl-α-MSH (P < 0.001) and vehicle HF vs α-MSH HF (P < 0.0001) or desacetyl-α-MSH HF (P < 0.01). (B–F) Fat pad weights for male Pomctm1/tm1 mice fed either an LF or HF diet after 14 d of ICV administration of vehicle, α-MSH, or desacetyl-α-MSH. Data are shown as mean ± SEM (n = 5 to 9). Significant differences are shown between vehicle and peptide treatment as determined using a two-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc analysis. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001; ****P < 0.0001. (G) Nonfasting plasma leptin of male Pomctm1/tm1 mice fed an LF or HF diet after 14 d of ICV administration of vehicle, α-MSH, or desacetyl-α-MSH. Data are shown as mean ± SEM (n = 5 to 8). Significant differences between vehicle and peptide treatment were determined using a two-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc analysis. ***P < 0.01; ****P < 0.0001.

The reductions in male Pomctm1/tm1 mouse body weight are mirrored by reductions in adipose tissue weights and plasma leptin levels. Centrally administered α-MSH or desacetyl-α-MSH significantly reduced retroperitoneal, visceral, subcutaneous, gonadal, and brown fat masses for male Pomctm1/tm1 mice fed an HF diet (Fig. 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E, and 5F). Centrally administered α-MSH significantly reduced retroperitoneal fat mass (Fig. 5B) and desacetyl-α-MSH significantly reduced retroperitoneal, visceral, and gonadal fat masses for male Pomctm1/tm1 mice fed an LF diet (Fig. 5B, 5C, and 5F). Centrally administered desacetyl-α-MSH or α-MSH also significantly reduced nonfasting plasma leptin (P < 0.001) for male Pomctm1/tm1 mice fed an HF diet (Fig. 5G).

Discussion

Our discovery that chronic HF diet exacerbates male and female Pomctm1/tm1 mouse obesity demonstrates that the obese state caused by the absence of α-MSH and desacetyl-α-MSH leaves mice vulnerable to an obesogenic environment. Our data highlight distinct mechanisms underlying HF diet–induced and impaired melanocortin signaling-induced mouse obesity. We also show, to our knowledge for the first time, that desacetyl-α-MSH and α-MSH are required for sexually dimorphic chronic HF diet–induced obesity in C57BL/6J mice. Female Pomcwt/wt mice but not Pomctm1/tm1 mice are protected from HF diet–induced obesity. Neither male Pomcwt/wt mice nor Pomctm1/tm1 mice are protected from HF diet–induced obesity. Furthermore, we show that either desacetyl-α-MSH οr α-MSH continuously administered during 14 days into the brains of male Pomctm1/tm1 mice reverses chronic HF diet–exacerbated obesity.

The data presented in the present study on Pomctm1/tm1 mice fed an LF diet are consistent with our previous results for Pomctm1/tm1 mice fed regular chow diet, demonstrating that male and female Pomctm1/tm1 mice develop obesity associated with increased body length (8). However, previously we showed that male and female Pomctm1/tm1 mice are hyperphagic compared with Pomcwt/wt mice, and in the present study we show that only male Pomctm1/tm1 mice are hyperphagic compared with Pomcwt/wt mice when fed an LF or HF diet. A number of factors likely contribute to the difference in food intake between the two studies for female mice. The previous study measured food intake for <1 week whereas the present study monitored food intake during 16 weeks. The environmental conditions between the two studies varied, including different animal facilities, regular chow vs an LF diet, metabolic vs standard cages, and individual vs group housing, all of which can affect mouse food intake. The known underlying C57BL/6J mouse sexually dimorphic metabolic differences (14, 27, 36) likely explain why we only observed hyperphagic differences for females between the two studies.

In contrast to an acute HF diet (8), a chronic HF diet compared with an LF diet does not induce hyperphagia in male or female Pomctm1/tm1 mice. HF diet exacerbation of male Pomctm1/tm1 mouse obesity is a result of increased energy intake because male Pomctm1/tm1 mice are hyperphagic on either an LF or HF diet compared with male Pomcwt/wt mice, and their energy intake fully accounts for their increased body weight gained during 14 to 28 days postweaning. However, HF diet exacerbation of female Pomctm1/tm1 mouse obesity is not a result of increased energy intake, nor is it a result of increased feed efficiency. Our data point to reduced energy expenditure being the major contributor to young female Pomctm1/tm1 mouse obesity compared with Pomcwt/wt mice when mice are fed an HF diet. Furthermore, the greater increase in body weight gained relative to the increase in energy intake for older female Pomctm1/tm1 mice compared with Pomcwt/wt mice similarly points to older female Pomctm1/tm1 mice having reduced energy expenditure compared with Pomcwt/wt mice, regardless of whether they are fed an LF or HF diet. Therefore, hyperphagia and energy expenditure appear to be sexually dimorphic phenotypes for Pomctm1/tm1 mice. Hyperphagia is a major contributor to male Pomctm1/tm1 mouse obesity although reduced energy expenditure appears to be a major contributor to female Pomctm1/tm1 obesity.

Male Pomctm1/tm1 mouse obesity is exacerbated by a chronic HF diet because mice eat the same quantity of an HF diet as an LF diet, but they obtain higher energy intake eating the HF diet. Although female Pomctm1/tm1 mice retain some ability to sense a high-caloric diet and respond by decreasing food intake as observed for female Pomcwt/wt mice, female Pomctm1/tm1 mouse obesity is exacerbated when they are fed an HF diet and their body weight gained is greater than their energy intake. Feed efficiency is not increased, and therefore reduced energy expenditure must be a major contributor to chronic HF diet–exacerbated female Pomctm1/tm1 obesity.

Fat depot weights for Pomctm1/tm1 compared with Pomcwt/wt mice are also sexually dimorphic when mice are fed an HF diet. Male, but not female, Pomctm1/tm1 mice compared with Pomcwt/wt mice chronically fed an HF diet exhibit preferential fat storage in visceral, subcutaneous, and brown adipose depots over retroperitoneal and gonadal adipose depots. In contrast, female Pomctm1/tm1 mice chronically fed an HF diet do not show any fat depot preference because significant increases are observed for all five fat depots studied, compared with female Pomcwt/wt mice. Distinct effects for Pomctm1/tm1 obesity and chronic HF diet–induced obesity on fat cell size are also observed. A chronic HF diet compared with an LF diet significantly increases male Pomcwt/wt mouse retroperitoneal fat cell size, whereas male Pomctm1/tm1 mice compared with Pomcwt/wt mice fed an HF diet exhibit increased subcutaneous fat cell size. In contrast to sexually dimorphic effects for fat depot weights, male and female Pomctm1/tm1 mice both exhibit significantly increased abdominal organ weights when mice are fed an HF diet.

Differential effects on fat depots are evidence that a chronic HF diet could alter glucose homeostasis in Pomctm1/tm1 mice, and altered glucose homeostasis could be a sexually dimorphic phenotype for Pomctm1/tm1 mice. Indeed, in the present study we show that a chronic HF diet exacerbates hyperglycemia and impairs GTTs in male, but not female, Pomc mice. Subcutaneous fat, compared with retroperitoneal fat, is considered “good fat” (33), and therefore male Pomctm1/tm1 mouse hyperglycemia and impaired GTTs would not be expected to predict risk of type 2 diabetes for male Pomctm1/tm1 mice chronically fed an HF diet. As predicted, we did not observe type 2 diabetes because the ITT was not impaired for either male or female Pomctm1/tm1 mice compared with Pomcwt/wt mice fed an LF or HF diet.

Surprisingly, we show in the present study that sexually dimorphic diet-induced obesity in C57BL/6J mice is associated with insulin resistance in female mice. Not only are female Pomcwt/wt mice resistant to HF diet–induced obesity, but they exhibit significantly impaired ITTs and significantly reduced plasma adiponectin levels when fed an HF diet compared with an LF diet.

Overall our data add to the growing body of knowledge about sexually dimorphic effects associated with melanocortin obesity (10, 37–41) and with HF diet–induced obesity in C57BL/6J mice. Although mechanisms explaining sexually dimorphic melanocortin obesity and associated altered metabolic effects are not known, impaired adaptive thermogenesis has been identified as a mechanism explaining sexually dimorphic chronic HF diet–induced C57BL/6J mouse obesity, when mice are fed an HF diet from weaning (27). Female mice are resistant to developing HF diet–induced obesity when housed at 20 to 23°C but not when housed at thermoneutrality (30 to 32°C), whereas male mice develop HF diet–induced obesity at either housing temperature (27). Giles et al. (27) have shown that adaptive thermogenesis is triggered in female mice when they sense a high-caloric diet and they burn the extra calories rather than store excess calories as fat. Alternatively, male mice are either not able to sense a high-caloric diet or they are not able to trigger adaptive thermogenesis, or both; they store excess calories as fat and become obese. This identifies sensing a high-caloric diet and responding by turning on adaptive thermogenesis to maintain body weight as sexually dimorphic responses, at least in C57BL/6J mice. In our study, we show that α-MSH and desacetyl-α-MSH are required for sexually dimorphic HF diet–induced C57BL/6J mouse obesity and, by association, α-MSH and desacetyl-α-MSH are required for female mice sensing a high-caloric diet and triggering adaptive thermogenesis. However, an additional mechanism is needed to explain male Pomctm1/tm1 mouse hyperphagia compared with Pomcwt/wt mice fed either an LF or HF diet.

Collectively, our data suggest that desacetyl-α-MSH and α-MSH play salutary roles in the protection against HF diet–induced mouse obesity in a sex-dependent manner. The molecular mechanisms that mediate sexually dimorphic melanocortin obesity and altered glucose homeostasis are unknown, but 17β-estradiol (E2) likely plays a role. Current evidence suggests that E2 interacts with the melanocortin system to regulate energy homeostasis, but it is not clear whether it leads to the sexually dimorphic phenotype observed in this study for Pomctm1/tm1 mice. Both male and female estrogen receptor α global knockout mice develop obesity (42). E2 activates POMC neurons, and E2 replacement in rodents prevents ovariectomized-induced obesity by decreasing food intake and increasing energy expenditure (43). However, whereas estrogen receptor α in arcuate nucleus POMC neurons can regulate feeding, E2 appears to regulate energy expenditure through non–POMC-expressing arcuate nucleus neurons (43, 44). Burke et al. (38) discovered a sex difference for a subset of arcuate nucleus POMC neurons expressing 5-hydroxytryptamine 2c receptor (5-HT2cR). Restoration of POMC expression only in arcuate nucleus POMC neurons expressing 5-HT2cR rescued hyperphagia in both male and female arcuate nucleus POMC null mice, but it only rescued energy expenditure in male but not female arcuate nucleus POMC-null mice (38). Therefore, the mechanisms for sexually dimorphic HF diet–induced and impaired melanocortin-induced reductions in energy expenditure may involve arcuate nucleus POMC neurons expressing 5-HT2cR, a subset of 5-HT2cR-expressing POMC neurons, or a POMC neuron subtype yet to be functionally characterized (45).

Our data support that a chronic HF diet compared with an LF diet increases energy expenditure for young male Pomcwt/wt and Pomctm1/tm1 mice, but it decreases energy expenditure for older male Pomcwt/wt and Pomctm1/tm1 mice. Similarly, our data support that a chronic HF diet compared with an LF diet increases energy expenditure for young female Pomctm1/tm1 mice, but it decreases energy expenditure for older female Pomctm1/tm1 mice. The apparent decreased energy expenditure associated with older mice feeding on an HF diet could be a consequence of the obese phenotype. Female Pomcwt/wt are resistant to HF diet–induced obesity, and our data support that a chronic HF diet compared with an LF diet increases energy expenditure for both young and older female Pomcwt/wt mice.

In summary, male Pomctm1/tm1 mice develop obesity because they are hyperphagic, and their obesity is exacerbated when they are fed an HF diet because they do not sense and respond appropriately to increased caloric intake, to defend their body weight. Female Pomctm1/tm1 mice develop obesity because they appear to have reduced energy expenditure, and their obesity is exacerbated when they are fed an HF diet because they have impaired sensing of a high-caloric diet and apparent impaired adaptive thermogenesis. Importantly, we show in the present study that continuous infusion of either desacetyl-α-MSH or α-MSH centrally to male Pomctm1/tm1 mice chronically fed an HF diet reverses obesity. Desacetyl-α-MSH is much more abundant than α-MSH in the rodent brain (46, 47) and in the human brain (48); therefore, both desacetyl-α-MSH and α-MSH likely play important roles in regulating body weight and fat mass in the presence of an obesogenic diet.

Conclusion

We show in the present study that understanding the impact of a chronic HF diet on the development of impaired melanocortin signaling driven obesity unravels mechanisms controlling energy homeostasis. Of note, we show sexually dimorphic physiological roles for desacetyl-α-MSH and α-MSH regulating sensitivity to caloric intake by regulating food intake and energy expenditure. This suggests that understanding how endogenous desacetyl-α-MSH and α-MSH are regulated and signal in vivo, in the presence of obesogenic diets, could lead to future prevention or treatment of obesity.