Functional Comparison of High and Low Molecular Weight Chitosan on Lipid Metabolism and Signals in High-Fat Diet-Fed Rats

Figure 1. Effects of high- or low-MW chitosan on TG (A), lipoprotein lipase (LPL) (B), and lipolysis rate (C) in perirenal adipose tissues of HF diet-fed rats. The rats were fed with different experimental diets for 8 weeks. Data are presented as mean ± SD (n = 8). Different letters indicate significant differences (p < 0.05). NC, normal control +5% cellulose; HF, high fat diet +5% cellulose; HC, high fat diet +5% high-MW chitosan; LC, high fat diet +5% low-MW chitosan.

Figure 2. Effect of high- or low-MW chitosan on hepatic morphology in HF diet-fed rats. The livers were isolated from rats fed with different experimental diets for 8 weeks. Tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. A: NC, normal control +5% cellulose; B: HF, high fat diet +5% cellulose; C: HC, high fat diet +5% high-MW chitosan; D: LC, high fat diet +5% low-MW chitosan.

Figure 3. Effect of high- or low- MW chitosan on hepatic AMPKα and PPARα protein expressions in HF diet-fed rats. The rats were fed with different experimental diets for 8 weeks. Protein expressions of phosphorylated AMPKα/AMPKα (A) and PPARα (B) were determined by Western blot. Densitometric analysis for protein levels corrected to AMPKα or β-actin (internal control) was shown. Data are presented as mean ± SD (n = 6). Different letters indicate significant differences (p < 0.05). NC, normal control +5% cellulose; HF, high fat diet +5% cellulose; HC, high fat diet +5% high-MW chitosan; LC, high fat diet +5% low-MW chitosan.

Figure 4. Effect of high- or low-MW chitosan on hepatic SREBP2, SREBP1c and PPARγ protein expressions in HF diet-fed rats. The rats were fed with different experimental diets for 8 weeks. Protein expressions of SREBP2 (A), SREBP1c (B), and PPARγ (C) were determined by Western blot. Densitometric analysis for protein levels corrected to β-actin (internal control) was shown. Data are presented as mean ± SD (n = 6). Different letters indicate significant differences (p < 0.05). NC, normal control + 5% cellulose; HF, high fat diet + 5% cellulose; HC, high fat diet + 5% high-MW chitosan; LC, high fat diet + 5% low-MW chitosan.

Figure 5. Effect of high- or low-MW chitosan on MTTP, ApoE, and Angptl4 protein expressions in the liver, blood, or intestine of HF diet-fed rats. The rats were fed with different experimental diets for 8 weeks. Protein expressions of hepatic ApoE and MTTP (A), blood Angptl4 (B), and intestinal MTTP and Angptl4 (C) were determined by Western blot. Densitometric analysis for protein levels corrected to β-actin (internal control) was shown. Data are presented as mean ± SD (n = 6). Different letters indicate significant differences (p < 0.05). NC, normal control +5% cellulose; HF, high fat diet +5% cellulose; HC, high fat diet +5% high-MW chitosan; LC, high fat diet +5% low-MW chitosan.