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Horm Metab Res 2011; 43(13): 899-906
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1291305
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© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Effects of High Fat Diet on the Basal Activity of the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis in Mice: A Systematic Review

H. E. Auvinen
1   Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
,
J. A. Romijn
1   Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
,
N. R. Biermasz
1   Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
,
L. M. Havekes
1   Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
2   TNO Metabolic Health Research, Gabius Laboratory, Leiden, The Netherlands
,
J.W. A. Smit
1   Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
,
P.C. N. Rensen
1   Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
,
A. M. Pereira
1   Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 30 June 2011

accepted 04 October 2011

Publication Date:
08 November 2011 (online)

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Abstract

Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal-axis activity is suggested to be involved in the pathophysiology of the metabolic syndrome. In diet-induced obesity mouse models, features of the metabolic syndrome are induced by feeding high fat diet. However, the models reveal conflicting results with respect to the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal-axis activation. The aim of this review was to assess the effects of high fat feeding on the activity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal-axis in mice. PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, the Cochrane database, and Science Direct were electronically searched and reviewed by 2 individual researchers. We included only original mouse studies reporting parameters of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal-axis after high fat feeding, and at least 1 basal corticosterone level with a proper control group. Studies with adrenalectomized mice, transgenic animals only, high fat diet for less than 2 weeks, or other interventions besides high fat diet, were excluded. 20 studies were included. The hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal-axis evaluation was the primary research question in only 5 studies. Plasma corticosterone levels were unchanged in 40%, elevated in 30%, and decreased in 20% of the studies. The effects in the peripheral tissues and the central nervous system were also inconsistent. However, major differences were found between mouse strains, experimental conditions, and the content and duration of the diets. This systematic review demonstrates that the effects of high fat feeding on the basal activity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal-axis in mice are limited and inconclusive. Differences in experimental conditions hamper comparisons and accentuate the need for standardized evaluations to discern the effects of diet-induced obesity on the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal-axis.

Key words

corticosterone - diet-induced obesity - metabolic syndrome
 

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