[Relationship of ghrelin and obesity induced by high-fat diet in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of expression and secretion of ghrelin on high-fat diet induced obesity in rats. METHODS: Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into high-fat diet group (n = 30) and chow fed control group (n = 10), and given either high-fat diet or chow for twelve weeks. Then the high-fat diet group was subdivided into dietary induced obesity (DIO) and dietary induced obesity resistant (DIR) group according to the final body weight. Fasting plasma ghrelin were determined by RIA. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to measure the expression of preproghrelin mRNA in gastric tissue. RESULTS: Cumulative caloric intake, body weight in DIO group were significantly higher than those in DIR and control group. Both fasting plasma ghrelin concentration and the preghrelin expression in gastric tissue were significantly lower in DIO group than in DIR and control group. CONCLUSION: Lower expression and secretion of ghrelin were closely associated with high-fat diet induced obesity and their higher caloric intake.