抄録
The aim of the present study was to determine whether the anti-obesity effects of tea catechins (TC) would be associated with the expression of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), which is a key protein of thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue (BAT). Five-week-old male SD rats were fed with 35% (w/w) high fat diet (HF) for 5 weeks. Thereafter, the animals were divided into 4 groups: HF, HFTC (HF + 0.5% TC), NF (5% normal fat diet) and NFTC (NF + 0.5% TC). The animals were fed with each diet for 8 weeks. On the final day of the experiment, interscapular BATs and perirenal and epididymal white adipose tissues (WATs) were collected. UCP1 mRNA levels in BATs were quantified by real-time RT-PCR method. BAT weights in NFTC and HFTC groups decreased significantly as compared to those in NF and HF group, respectively. Perirenal WAT weight in NFTC group was significantly lower than that in NF group while no significant difference was observed between HF and HFTC groups. Epididymal WAT weights, however, did not change by TC intake. In NFTC group, UCP1 mRNA level of BAT was significantly higher than that in NF group while the difference between HF and HFTC groups was not significant. In conclusion, TC intake reduced perirenal WAT weight in NFTC group. TC intake also affected UCP1 mRNA expression of BAT in NFTC group. Therefore, the suppressive effects of TC on the body fat accumulation appear to be associated with the function of BAT. [J Physiol Sci. 2007;57 Suppl:S183]
