Gene expression studies support obesity related sub-phenotypes in BB.4S and BB.4W rats

Aim: There are two congenic BB rat strains carring a SHR segment (D4Got41-Tacr1; BB.4S) or a WOKW segment (D4Got41-Fabp1; BB.4W) of chromosome 4 into BB/OK background. Both congenics develop obesity with hyperinsulinemia (BB.4W) or with hyperleptinemia (BB.4S) representing two sub-phenotypes related to obesity. Therefore, we studied the gene expression in adipose tissues and hypothalamus of BB.4S and BB.4W rats. Methods: Total RNA of subcutaneous and epidydimal adipose tissue as well as hypothalamus of BB.4S (n=8) and BB.4W males (n=9) at an age of 4 weeks was isolated, transcribed in cDNA and used for real-time…