Impact of sex on microvascular reactivity in a murine model of diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance

Figures

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  Figure 1. Body weight and carbohydrate metabolism in male and female C57BL6 mice fed chow and high fat diet for 12 weeks (n = 12 per group). Body weight measured over 14 weeks of chow or high fat feeding, in male (A) and female (B) mice. Blood glucose (mmol/L) levels (C) and plasma insulin (ng/mL) (D) measured after 12 weeks of chow or high fat feeding in male and female mice, in the fed (random fed) and fasted (16hr fast) state. Plasma insulin measured in the fed and fasted state (D). Blood glucose (mmol/L) levels expressed over time and as area under the curve (AUC) in response to an insulin tolerance test (ip 1.5U/kg) in male (E) and female (F) mice fed chow or high fat diet for 12 weeks. ∗p < 0.05, ∗∗P < 0.01, ∗∗∗p < 0.001, ∗∗∗∗p < 0.0001.

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  Figure 2. Intravital microscopy conducted on male and female C57BL/6 mice fed a chow (male n = 6, female n = 5) or high-fat (male n = 4, female n = 5) diet for 14–16 weeks. Intravital microscopy was performed in mice who were in a fed state prior to the procedure (cohort 1). Vessel diameter of 2A arteriole after 45-minute equilibrium period (baseline) and at maximal dilation with addition of SNP 10−2 in male (A) and female (B) mice. Acetylcholine (C, D) and phenylephrine (E, F) dose response curves illustrating percent diameter change from baseline arteriole diameter in male (C, E) and female (D, F) mice. ∗p < 0.05, ∗∗P < 0.01, ∗∗∗p < 0.001, ∗∗∗∗p < 0.0001.

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  Figure 3. Intravital microscopy conducted on male and female C57BL6 mice fed a chow (male n = 5, female n = 6) or high fat (male n = 5, female n = 6) diet for 14–16 weeks and that were in a fasted state (15–19 h) prior to the procedure (cohort 2). Vessel diameter of 2A arteriole after 45-minute equilibrium period (baseline) and at maximal dilation with addition of SNP 10−2 in male (A) and female (B) mice. Acetylcholine (C, D) and phenylephrine (E, F) dose response curves illustrating percent diameter change from baseline arteriole diameter in male (C, E) and female (D, F) mice.

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  Figure 4. Summary of findings for A2 arteriole size and vasodilation and vasoconstriction response in female and males mice, fed high fat diet or chow diet in a fed or fasted state. This figure was created using Biorender.com.