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Open Access 20-03-2024 | Fatty Liver | Original Article

Partial validation of a six-month high-fat diet and fructose-glucose drink combination as a mouse model of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Authors: Evangelia S. Makri, Konstantinos Xanthopoulos, Panagiotis Mavrommatis Parasidis, Eleftheria Makri, Spyros Pettas, Anastasia Tsingotjidou, Angeliki Cheva, Iris Ballaouri, Spyridon Gerou, Antonis Goulas, Stergios A. Polyzos

Published in: Endocrine

Abstract

Purpose

The need to investigate the pathogenesis and treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has led to the development of multiple mouse models. The aim of this study was to validate a fast food diet (FFD) mouse model that is introduced as being close to the human disease.

Methods

Eight to nine weeks old male and female C57BL/6 J mice were randomly allocated to a FFD group or to a chow diet (CD) group. Every four weeks, mice were weighed, and blood samples were collected for the measurement of glucose, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), triglycerides (TGs) and total cholesterol. After 25 weeks, mice were sacrificed, and liver tissue was histologically evaluated.

Results

FFD mice gained more weight (p = 0.049) and presented a higher liver-to-body weight ratio (p < 0.001) compared to CD mice. FFD group presented with greater steatosis, hepatocellular ballooning and NAFLD activity score (NAS), whereas lobular inflammation and fibrosis were not significantly different compared to CD. When stratified by sex, NAS was different between FFD and CD groups in both male and female mice. Group by time interaction was significant for weight, ALT and cholesterol, but not for glucose, AST and TGs.

Conclusion

FFD mice presented with morphologic and biochemical features of NAFLD and with greater hepatic steatosis, hepatocellular ballooning and NAS, but not lobular inflammation and fibrosis, compared to CD mice. These results only partly validate the FFD mouse model for NAFLD, at least for a 6-month feeding period.

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Title: Partial validation of a six-month high-fat diet and fructose-glucose drink combination as a mouse model of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Evangelia S. Makri
Konstantinos Xanthopoulos
Panagiotis Mavrommatis Parasidis
Eleftheria Makri
Spyros Pettas
Anastasia Tsingotjidou
Angeliki Cheva
Iris Ballaouri
Spyridon Gerou
Antonis Goulas
Stergios A. Polyzos
Publication date: 20-03-2024
Publisher: Springer US
Keyword: Fatty Liver
Published in: Endocrine
Print ISSN: 1355-008X
Electronic ISSN: 1559-0100
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-024-03769-5

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