Samantha Ann Bernice A.

Manlutac July 26, 2019

12-Fleming

Body mass index of male and female Wistar rats following administration of leptin
hormone after a dietary regime
Rabiu, A.M.; Wale, H.; Garba, K.; Sabo, A.M.; Hassan, Z.; Shugaba, A.I.; et. al. Annals
of Bioanthropology. 2017.

ABSTRACT
Introduction: Obesity is a problem affecting people of all ages and socioeconomic
status. Leptin hormone (LH), a product of the obesity gene, is a key regulator of
feeding and energy expenditure. Aim: The study is aimed at determining the effect of
LH on body mass index (BMI) in Wistar rats after a diet regime. Materials and Methods:
Forty rats (male [M], n = 20; female [F], n = 20), aged 9 weeks and weighing 77.2-123.0
g, were randomly divided into two Groups A (M) and B (F) and further divided into
four subgroups of n = 5. They were maintained ad libitum on different diet and water
for 10 weeks. Group 1; control (standard rat fee), Group 2 (high fat diet), Group 3
(protein diet), and Group 4 (carbohydrate diet). BMI was calculated weekly for 10
weeks (pre-test). LH was injected for 2 weeks; the BMI was then calculated (post-test).
Paired t-test was used to analyse the differences between the BMI pre- and post-test
periods and also to analyse for sexual dimorphism for the pre- and post-test periods.
Level of significance was at P < 0.05. Results: The results revealed no significant
difference (P > 0.05) in the BMI for the pre- and post-test period and no sexual
dimorphism for the BMI during the pre-test period. However, there was a significant
difference (P < 0.05) and sexual dimorphism for BMI during the post-test period.
Conclusion: This result implies that the LH is more effective in the male gender than the
female when considering BMI and hence may reduce the risk associated with obesity.
Key words: Body mass index, diet regime, leptin hormone, obesity, sexual dimorphism,
Wistar rats
SYNTHESIS
The study conducted by Rabiu, et. al. (2017) objectified to determine the
effects of the leptin hormone on the body mass index (BMI) in Wistar rats after a diet
regime. Leptin hormone, according to Rabiu, et. al. (2017), inhibits appetite in the
hypothalamus. Therefore, the initial assumption is that the Wistar rats’ body mass
indices (BMIs) and weights must decrease, if not significantly.
As stated in the abstract, the research utilized forty Wistar rats which were
divided into half, male and female. They were 9 weeks old, weighing between 77.2
and 123.0 g, which were further grouped into four subgroups containing 5 rats each.
All groups were fed with unique and experimental diets, and water for 10 weeks.
Group 1, the control, received standard rat feed and water, Group 2 received high-
fat diet (margarine, 90%) mixed with some standard rat feed (10%), Group 3 received
protein diet (soybeans, 100%), and Group 4 received carbohydrate diet (cereal,
𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 (𝑔)
100%). The research utilized the formula for BMI: ( 𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ (𝑐𝑚2 )) (𝑔/𝑐𝑚2 ) . The body mass
indices of the forty rats were calculated weekly for 10 weeks during pre-test, and after
the administration of leptin hormone. There is a slight reduction/decrease in the paired
means of the two periods, but it is of no statistical significance, however a wide
difference was recorded between the means of the pre-test and post-test period. The
pre-test period means reduced when compared with the post-test period means. This
suggests a more profound effect of the LH on the male gender. Although the body
mass indices of the Wistar rats have not significantly decreased, it may be deduced
that this kind of treatment works better on male Wistar rats.
During the research period, the researchers noticed that the rats fed on high
fat diets (margarine and standard rat feed) expressed hyperphagia with an initial
increase in weight and calculated BMI. The results from this study showed no
significant difference (P = 0.70 and P = 0.66) in the body mass indices (BMIs) despite
the induction of leptin hormone. The researchers also stated that their references
which used the leptin hormone on rats had a similar result, where modest weight losses
were recorded. The results implied instead sexual dimorphism in BMIs, where the
administration is most effective on the male gender.