吡格列酮抑制载脂蛋白E基因敲除小鼠主动脉粥样硬化病变进展及可能机制

目的观察吡格列酮对高脂饲料喂养的载脂蛋白E基因敲除小鼠主动脉粥样硬化病变及其血浆脂联素水平的影响,以探讨噻唑烷二酮类药物抗动脉粥样硬化作用及其可能的机制。方法取9只17周龄雄性C57BL/6J小鼠普通饲料喂养4周为对照组;另取31只同周龄雄性载脂蛋白E基因敲除小鼠随机分成三组给予高脂饲料喂养4周,其中模型组(n=10)单用高脂饲料喂养,低剂量治疗组(n=10)经胃管给予吡格列酮10 mg/(kg.d),高剂量治疗组(n=11)经胃管给予吡格列酮20 mg/(kg.d)。所有试验小鼠均观察其主动脉粥样硬化病变及血脂、血浆脂联素水平。结果与对照组比,所有载脂蛋白E基因敲除小鼠血脂水平显著升高并伴有主动脉内膜明显增厚及内膜下粥样斑块形成;与对照组(18.96±4.89μg/L)比,模型组血浆脂联素水平(12.41±3.84μg/L)显著下降,而两治疗组脂联素水平(18.78±7.24和24.00±4.71μg/L)比模型组显著升高,主动脉粥样硬化病变却减轻,且这种变化在高剂量治疗组更明显。结论吡格列酮抑制载脂蛋白E基因敲除小鼠主动脉粥样硬化病变的进展可能与其提高血浆脂联素水平有关。     

丙丁酚可干预小鼠动脉粥样硬化病变并调节B类I型清道夫受体的表达

目的研究丙丁酚对高脂高胆固醇饲养的载脂蛋白E基因敲除小鼠和C57BL6／J小鼠血脂及动脉粥样硬化病变的影响，以及肝脏B类Ⅰ型清道夫受体和PPARγ表达的变化。方法分别随机将20只载脂蛋白E^-/^-小鼠和20只C57BL6／J小鼠分为载脂蛋白E^-／^-高脂组和载脂蛋白E^-/^-高脂＋0．5％丙丁酚组。     

瑞舒伐他汀对载脂蛋白E基因敲除小鼠血管内皮黏附性的影响

目的 观察瑞舒伐他汀抗血管壁炎症的作用.方法 载脂蛋白E基因敲除小鼠80只和C57BL/6小鼠20只,均为8～9周龄.分为2周药物处理组和6周药物处理组,每组各40只载脂蛋白E基因敲除小鼠和10只C57BL/6小鼠.载脂蛋白E基因敲除小鼠每日1次皮下注射不同浓度的瑞舒伐他汀,剂量分别为0、1、5和20 mg/kg.药物处理满2周或6周时,心内穿刺取血,并收获小鼠主动脉.结果 经瑞舒伐他汀处理2周或6周后,载脂蛋白E基因敲除小鼠血浆总胆固醇和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇明显下降,但甘油三酯和高密度脂蛋白胆固醇均无明显变化.经瑞舒伐他汀处理2周后,20 mg/kg组载脂蛋白E基因敲除小鼠主动脉内皮一单核细胞黏附率有明显下降;经瑞舒伐他汀处理6周后,5、20 mg/kg组载脂蛋白E基因敲除小鼠主动脉内皮一单核细胞黏附率均有明显下降.经定量RT-PCR分析,瑞舒伐他汀20 mg/kg能明显抑制载脂蛋白E基因敲除小鼠主动脉VCAM-1、MCP-1 mRNA表达.结论 瑞舒伐他汀具有抑制动脉粥样硬化早期炎症反应的作用.     

老龄载脂蛋白E基因敲除小鼠血脂及病理组织学观察

目的:观察用普食喂养而非以往研究中的高脂饮食喂养的载脂蛋白E基因敲除小鼠(Apo E-/-)的血脂及病理组织学变化特点。方法:各选取20只8周龄雄性小鼠和同龄同性C57BL/6J小鼠为对照,普食喂养6~8个月,测定血清中总胆固醇(TC)、三酰甘油(TG)、低密度脂蛋白(LDL)和高密度脂蛋白(HDL)的含量。常规制备主动脉的病理切片,进行HE染色,观察病理学变化。结果:Apo E-/-小鼠血清中TC、TG、LDL含量明显高于对照组(P0.05),且Apo E-/-小鼠主动脉根部病理切片明显脂质斑块形成。结论:普食喂养8月龄Apo E-/-小鼠是研究动脉粥样硬化(AS)的理想动物模型,为AS性心血管疾病研究者提供了参考资料。     

CCR2受体介导单核细胞趋化蛋白1诱导的人脐静脉内皮细胞凋亡

目的观察载脂蛋白E基因敲除小鼠头臂干动脉粥样硬化斑块在进展过程中斑块内部不同组分的变化情况。方法将18只8周龄载脂蛋白E基因敲除(ApoE-/-)小鼠随机分为三组,每组6只,给与西方膳食饲料分别饲养至24周龄、32周龄和40周龄后,麻醉开胸经下腔静脉取血后采用生物化学方法检测血清总胆固醇(TC)、甘油三酯(TG)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDLC)和高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDLC);取出头臂干动脉后用4%多聚甲醛固定,常规脱水,石蜡包埋并切片得到....     

辛伐他汀消退老年载脂蛋白E基因敲除小鼠动脉粥样硬化斑块的观察

目的观察辛伐他汀对高脂喂养的老年载脂蛋白E(apoE)基因敲除小鼠动脉粥样硬化(AS)斑块的作用。方法选取高脂喂养的60周龄雄性aopE基因敲除小鼠30只,随机分为辛伐他汀高剂量组、辛伐他汀低剂量组和模型组,每组10只,分别每天予以辛伐他汀20mg/kg、辛伐他汀5mg/kg和等量生理盐水灌胃,连续灌胃8周后,取主动脉窦部做病理检测。冷冻切片光镜下观察AS斑块病理情况,免疫组织化学染色观察骨桥蛋白、α肌动蛋白的表达。vonkossa染色观察斑块钙化情况。结果与模型组比较,辛伐他汀高、低剂量组apoE基因敲除小鼠的血清TC和LDL-C水平明显降低(P<0.05),斑块面积占管腔面积比、斑块内钙化染色面积明显减少(P<0.05)。结论辛伐他汀可明显降低老年apoE基因敲除小鼠的血清TC和LDL-C水平,消退AS斑块的大小及其钙化。     

丙丁酚可干预小鼠动脉粥样硬化病变并调节B类I型清道夫受体的表达

目的研究丙丁酚对高脂高胆固醇饲养的载脂蛋白E基因敲除小鼠和C57BL6/J小鼠血脂及动脉粥样硬化病变的影响,以及肝脏B类I型清道夫受体和PPARγ表达的变化。方法分别随机将20只载脂蛋白E-/-小鼠和20只C57BL6/J小鼠分为载脂蛋白E-/-高脂组和载脂蛋白E-/-高脂 0.5%丙丁酚组。动物喂     

血脂康对载脂蛋白E基因敲除小鼠动脉粥样硬化的影响

观察血脂康对载脂蛋白E基因敲除小鼠高脂血症及动脉粥样硬化的影响.16只6周龄载脂蛋白E基因敲除小鼠随机分为高脂血症组(n=8)和血脂康组(n=8),相同遗传背景的同龄正常C57BL/6J小鼠为正常对照组(n=8).血脂康组每只灌服血脂康4 mg/d,高脂血症组、正常对照组每只灌服生理盐水0.4 mL/d.连续灌胃14周后下腔静脉取血测血脂,再用10%福尔马林灌注后,取主动脉进行形态学观察及图像分析.结果发现,高脂血症组血清总胆固醇、甘油三酯、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平明显高于正常对照组(P<0.05),但血脂康组血清总胆固醇、甘油三酯和低密度脂蛋白水平与高脂血症组相比则明显下降(P<0.05).图像分析结果发现,高脂血症组动脉粥样硬化病变显著,与正常对照组相比斑块总面积明显增加(P<0.05);光镜下多为粥样硬化期,管壁厚薄不均,可见由大量泡沫细胞形成的脂纹脂斑期病变和由大量泡沫细胞及胆固醇结晶形成的粥样斑块期病灶;血脂康组病变较高脂血症组明显减轻,血脂康组与高脂血症组相比斑块总面积明显减小(P<0.05),主要为早期粥样硬化,管壁厚薄较均匀,未见明显脂纹脂斑及粥样斑块期病灶;正常对照组为正常动脉壁,厚薄均匀,无动脉粥样硬化病灶.结果提示,血脂康有降低载脂蛋白E基因敲除小鼠血清总胆固醇、甘油三酯和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平及减轻动脉粥样硬化的作用.     

高棕榈酸饮食对ApoE基因敲除小鼠动脉粥样硬化的影响

1目的：观察高棕榈酸饮食对载脂蛋白E（ApoE）基因敲除小鼠的血脂、血浆游离脂肪酸水平、动脉粥样硬化斑块面积、斑块中胶原含量和基质金属蛋白酶2表达的影响。方法：将20只6～8周龄雄性ApoE基因敲除小鼠随机分为对照组和高棕榈酸饮食组,每组10只。分别给予普通小鼠饲料和含5％棕榈酸的饮食,连续喂养12周。用比色法检测血脂和血浆游离脂肪酸水平;主动脉根部连续石蜡切片,Masson染色检测斑块内胶原含量,免疫组化法检测主动脉基质金属蛋白酶2的表达。结果：两组血脂水平无明显差异。与对照组相比,高棕榈酸饮食组血浆游离脂肪酸水平显著升高,主动脉斑块内胶原含量显著降低,主动脉基质金属蛋白酶2表达明显增加（P均〈0．05）。结论：高棕榈酸饮食能够升高血浆游离脂肪酸水平,降低斑块内胶原含量,从而降低动脉粥样硬化斑块稳定性,其机制可能与其上调基质金属蛋白酶2的表达有关。     

糖尿病合并动脉粥样硬化小鼠模型的建立

目的　探讨糖尿病合并动脉粥样硬化小鼠模型建立的方法。方法　8周龄雄性载脂蛋白E基因敲除（ApoE^-/-）小鼠46只,随机分为对照组、高脂饮食组、链脲佐菌素低剂量组和高剂量组,链脲佐菌素低剂量组和高剂量组分别腹腔注射链脲佐菌素55　mg/kg（连续注射5天）、200　mg/kg（单次注射）。2月后测定空腹血糖、血脂、主动脉根部斑块面积。结果　链脲佐菌素高剂量组出现高死亡率,链脲佐菌素低剂量组血糖、血脂、粥样斑块面积均高于对照组和高脂组（P＜0.01）,高脂组空腹血糖呈轻度升高（7.78±0.67　mmol/L）。结论　以ApoE^-/-小鼠为基础小剂量多次腹腔注射链脲佐菌素是制备糖尿病合并动脉粥样硬化小鼠模型的理想方法,单纯高脂喂养ApoE^-/-小鼠可以导致空腹血糖升高,大剂量单次腹腔内注射链脲佐菌素不宜用于该模型的建立。     

The effect of a high fibre diet on diabetic nephropathy in the db/db mouse

Summary Genetically diabetic mice (C57 BLKsJ db/ db) aged 5–6 weeks were given a diet containing 20% by weight of non-nutritive bulk and compared with age matched control diabetic mice on a normal diet (fibre content 4.5%) and non-diabetic mice. The duration of study was 12 weeks. No adverse effects were observed in animals given the high fibre diet. Total food consumption was greater in mice receiving the fibre enriched diet, but their absolute caloric intake was 6% less than control diabetic mice. Both groups exhibited similar rates of growth and development. Water intake in the experimental diabetic mice was reduced and similar to that of normal non-diabetic mice. Fasting blood glucose was significantly decreased in the experimental diabetic mice at 12 weeks. Renal pathological lesions in the control diabetic mice showed glomerular mesangial expansion and deposition of immunoglobulins within the mesangium. The experimental diabetic animals exhibited significantly less renal pathology, including light and immunofluorescent lesions. It is concluded that addition of non-absorbable fibre to the diet of genetically diabetic mice improves glycaemic control and retards the development of diabetic nephropathy.     

Experimental diets affect pancreatic insulin and glucagon differently in male and female mice

The influence of food composition on pancreatic insulin and glucagon content was studied in NMRI-mice of both sexes. The mice were divided into five groups, each given a different diet from the age of 1 mo to 3 mo: (A) laboratory chow as control; (B) high sucrose; (C) high animal fat; (D) high vegetable fat; and (E) a mixed diet with sucrose (40%), fat (40%) and protein (20%). Irrespective of the diet composition, female mice had a higher pancreatic insulin and glucagon content and an overall lower blood-sugar throughout the experimental period. In both sexes, blood sugar was highest in diets with a high fat content. The highest pancreatic insulin content was found in female mice fed the mixed diet (E) and in male mice fed the sucrose diet (B). In male mice, only the vegetable fat diet led to a decreased pancreatic insulin content. Pancreatic glucagon was increased in female mice given vegetable fat (D). In male mice, pancreatic glucagon was depressed with the animal fat diet (C). These results suggest that the composition of food influences the pancreatic content of insulin and glucagon differently in female and male mice.     

Evidence of anti-obesity effects of the pomegranate leaf extract in high-fat diet induced obese mice

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the anti-obesity effects of the pomegranate leaf extract (PLE) in a mouse model of high-fat diet induced obesity and hyperlipidemia. DESIGN: For the anti-obesity experiment, male and female ICR mice were fed with a high-fat diet to induce obesity. When the weight of the high-fat diet group was 20% higher than the normal diet group, the animals were treated with 400 or 800 mg/kg/day of PLE for 5 weeks. Body weight and daily food intake were measured regularly during the experimental period. The various adipose pads were weighed and serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), glucose and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured after 5 weeks, treatment with PLE. In the fat absorption experiment, both the normal and obese mice were given 0.5 ml lipid emulsion and PLE at a dose of 800 mg/kg at the same time. Serial serum TG levels were measured at times 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 h after the treatment. TGs in fecal excretions were measured after the mice were orally given a lipid emulsion. Effects of PLE and its isolated compounds (ellagic acid and tannic acid) on pancreatic lipase activity were examined in vitro. RESULTS: The PLE-treated groups showed a significant decrease in body weight, energy intake and various adipose pad weight percents and serum, TC, TG, glucose levels and TC/HDL-C ratio after 5 weeks treatment. Furthermore, PLE significantly attenuated the raising of the serum TG level and inhibited the intestinal fat absorption in mice given a fat emulsion orally. PLE showed a significant difference in decreasing the appetite of obese mice fed a high-fat diet, but showed no effect in mice fed a normal diet. CONCLUSION: PLE can inhibit the development of obesity and hyperlipidemia in high-fat diet induced obese mice. The effects appear to be partly mediated by inhibiting the pancreatic lipase activity and suppressing energy intake. PLE may be a novel appetite suppressant that only affects obesity owing to a high-fat diet.     

Impaired branched chain amino acid metabolism alters feeding behavior and increases orexigenic neuropeptide expression in the hypothalamus

Elevation of dietary or brain leucine appears to suppress food intake via a mechanism involving mechanistic target of rapamycin, AMPK, and/or branched chain amino acid (BCAA) metabolism. Mice bearing a deletion of mitochondrial branched chain aminotransferase (BCATm), which is expressed in peripheral tissues (muscle) and brain glia, exhibit marked increases in circulating BCAAs. Here, we test whether this increase alters feeding behavior and brain neuropeptide expression. Circulating and brain levels of BCAAs were increased two- to four-fold in BCATm-deficient mice (KO). KO mice weighed less than controls (25·9 vs 20·4?g, P<0·01), but absolute food intake was relatively unchanged. In contrast to wild-type mice, KO mice preferred a low-BCAA diet to a control diet (P<0·05) but exhibited no change in preference for low- vs high-protein (HP) diets. KO mice also exhibited low leptin levels and increased hypothalamic Npy and Agrp mRNA. Normalization of circulating leptin levels had no effect on either food preference or the increased Npy and Agrp mRNA expression. If BCAAs act as signals of protein status, one would expect reduced food intake, avoidance of dietary protein, and reduction in neuropeptide expression in BCATm-KO mice. Instead, these mice exhibit an increased expression of orexigenic neuropeptides and an avoidance of BCAAs but not HP. These data thus suggest that either BCAAs do not act as physiological signals of protein status or the loss of BCAA metabolism within brain glia impairs the detection of protein balance.     

The role of the nuclear receptor constitutive androstane receptor in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a common liver injury, but the pathophysiological mechanisms leading to the development of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) remain unclear. The pathological roles of the nuclear receptor constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), a key regulator of drug-metabolising enzymes, in the development of NASH were investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS: CAR(+/+) and CAR(-/-) mice were given a methionine and choline-deficient (MCD) diet to establish a dietary model of NASH. Increases in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and in infiltration of inflammatory cells were dominant in CAR(+/+) mice at 8 weeks. There was no significant difference in the lipid concentration of the liver - namely, the first hit between CAR(+/+) and CAR(-/-) mice. The index of lipid peroxidation increased in liver of the CAR(+/+) mice, as demonstrated by 8-iso-prostaglandin F2alpha (F2-isoprostanes). Western blotting analysis showed that nuclear translocation of CAR occurred in CAR(+/+) mice fed the MCD diet. As a result, the CAR activation caused the lipid peroxidation - namely, the second hit. The expressions of cytochrome P450 (CYP)2B10, 2C29, 3A11 all increased considerably in the CAR(+/+) mice. Furthermore, alpha smooth muscle actin immunohistochemistry and Sirius red staining showed an increase in the degree of fibrosis in CAR(+/+) mice fed the MCD diet at 16 weeks. The mRNA expressions of collagen alpha1(1) and the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 were found to be elevated in CAR(+/+) mice. CONCLUSION: CAR caused the worsening of the hepatic injury and fibrosis in the dietary model of NASH. Our results suggest that the CAR nuclear receptor may thus play a critical role in the pathogenesis of NASH.     

Anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in rodent models of leptin resistance

OBJECTIVE: Obesity in rodents and humans is mostly associated with elevated plasma leptin concentrations, suggesting a new pathological concept of 'leptin resistance'. We have demonstrated that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) can improve obesity and diabetes of C57BL/KsJ db/db (db/db) mice. In this study, we investigated whether or not BDNF is effective in two different models of leptin resistance, an acquired model and a genetic model. DESIGN: C57BL/6J mice rendered obese by consumption of a high-fat diet (diet-induced obesity (DIO) mice) were used as an acquired model and lethal yellow agouti mice (KKA(y) mice) as a genetic model of leptin resistance. Food intake and glucose metabolism were studied after acute or repetitive administration of BDNF. RESULTS: Intraperitoneal administration of BDNF (10 mg/kg, twice/day) significantly reduced cumulative food intake of DIO and KKA(y) mice, whereas they were unresponsive to leptin administration. Repetitive subcutaneous administration of BDNF (10 mg/kg daily for 6 days) reduced food intake and improved impaired glucose tolerance in DIO mice. Pair feeding of vehicle-treated DIO mice with the same amount of chow consumed by the BDNF-treated group did not improve the impaired glucose homeostasis, indicating that the antidiabetic effect is not due to decreased food intake. We also observed that BDNF is effective in improving obesity and diabetes of KKA(y) mice. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated antiobesity and antidiabetic effects of BDNF in two different models of leptin resistance, thereby suggesting the therapeutic potential of BDNF in the treatment of leptin-resistant obesity and diabetes.     

The EFFect of dietary fat content on the recurrence of pancreaTitis (EFFORT): Protocol of a multicenter randomized controlled trial

BackgroundAround 20% of patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) will develop acute recurrent pancreatitis (ARP) and 10% will progress to chronic pancreatitis. While interventions to avoid recurrences exist for the two most common causes – abstinence for alcoholic and cholecystectomy for biliary pancreatitis – the are no known preventive measures in idiopathic ARP. Though it is not included in any of the guidelines, a low-fat diet is often recommended.Our aim is to test dietary fat reduction's effect on AP recurrence in a randomized controlled setting, in order to provide high-quality evidence for the validity of such an intervention.Methods, designParticipants with at least 2 episodes of AP in the preceding 2 years of which the last episode was idiopathic will be randomized to one of two diets with different fat contents: a ‘reduced fat diet’ (15% fat, 65% carbohydrate, 20% protein) and a ‘standard healthy diet’ (30% fat, 50% carbohydrate, 20% protein; based on WHO recommendations). Participants will be followed-up for 2 years (visits will be scheduled for months 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24) during which they will receive a repeated session of nutritional guidance, complete food frequency questionnaires and data on relapse, mortality, BMI, cardiovascular parameters and serum lipid values will be collected.DiscussionThis study will determine the effect of modifying the dietary fat content on AP recurrence, mortality, serum lipids and weight loss in idiopathic cases.     

左旋精氨酸诱导小鼠慢性胰腺炎模型的建立

目的慢性胰腺炎（CP）是临床常见病之一，建立合适的动物模型对了解CP的病因、发病机制及病变过程都有十分重要的意义。方法本研究采用雄性SPF级C57BL／6小鼠腹腔注射左旋精氨酸造模，按4．0g／kg体质量，每周1次（每次注射2回，每回间隔1h），连续4周。同剂量的生理盐水作为对照。结果造模4周后发现小鼠体质量和胰腺体质量比下降、随机血糖升高、胰腺组织切片观察显示呈慢性炎症表现。结论左旋精氨酸可以用于CP的造模，而且重复性好、易于操作。     

肥大细胞脱颗粒对载脂蛋白E基因敲除小鼠斑块稳定性的影响

目的 探讨肥大细胞脱颗粒对颈总动脉套环的载脂蛋白E基因敲除小鼠斑块稳定性的影响.方法 40只雄性载脂蛋白E基因敲除小鼠予以高脂高胆固醇饲料喂养,行右颈总动脉套环术,术后4周,随机分为实验组和对照组,实验组小鼠腹腔注射肥大细胞脱颗粒剂--化合物48/80(0.5 mg/kg),对照组小鼠腹腔注射相同体积的溶媒D-Hank's,隔日一次,共4次.第4次注射后30 min安乐死,取材.比色法测定血清类胰蛋白酶活性;甲苯胺蓝染色检测肥大细胞脱颗粒;苏木素-伊红染色观察颈总动脉病理改变及斑块内出血;Ⅷ因子相关抗原免疫组织化学染色检测斑块内新生血管密度;血管内皮钙粘蛋白、白细胞介素1β免疫组织化学染色检测其在斑块内的表达量.结果 实验组套环侧颈总动脉内膜下斑块内泡沫细胞、细胞外脂质及炎性细胞较对照组明显增多;实验组肥大细胞脱颗粒、血清类胰蛋白酶活性、斑块内新生血管密度、斑块内出血、斑块内白细胞介素1β及血管内皮钙粘蛋白的表达量比对照组显著增高(P<0.05或P<0.01).结论 肥大细胞脱颗粒增加斑块内泡沫细胞、细胞外脂质及炎性细胞,并促进斑块内血管新生、斑块内出血及白细胞介素1β和血管内皮钙粘蛋白的表达,从而使斑块稳定性削弱.     

Food intake reduction and immunologic alterations in mice fed dehydroepiandrosterone

A diet containing 0.4% DHEA was fed to male mice of a long-lived strain from 3 weeks until 18 weeks of age. These mice were compared with others fed a control diet ad libitum and with mice pair-fed the control diet in amounts approximating the intake of the DHEA-fed group. Mice fed the DHEA diet failed to eat all of food presented to them whereas the pair-fed mice ate all of their food. All mice were studied at 18 weeks of age for twp age-sensitive immune parameters (spleen lymphocyte proliferation induced by T-cell mitogens [PHA or ConA] and natural killer cell lysis of an allogeneic tumor). DHEA feeding led to: 1) a decrease in food intake ( ～30% less than for mice fed the control diet ad libitum), 2) a lower body weight at 18 weeks of age ( ～40% lower than for ad libitum controls) due to a decrease in the body weight gained from 3 weeks through 18 weeks of age ( ～55% lower than controls), 3) a lower spleen weight ( ～30% lower than controls) but without lower numbers of nucleated cells per spleen, 4) an increase in PHA-induced proliferation by spleen lymphocytes ( ～100% higher than for controls) and, 5) no influence on splenic natural killer cell activity. The inhibition of body weight gain for mice fed DHEA appeared due to both a reduction in food intake and a metabolic effect since mice eating DHEA gained less body weight per gram of food eaten than did mice in eithergroup eating the control diet.