Induction of Cardiac Uncoupling Protein-2 Expression and Adenosine 5′-Monophosphate-Activated Protein Kinase Phosphorylation during Early States of Diet-Induced Obesity in Mice

The objective of this work was to characterize the adaptation of cardiac metabolism to a lipid overload in a model of diet-induced obesity (DIO) in mice. After 8 wk dietary treatment, mice receiving a high-fat diet exhibited an increase in the amount of adipose tissue, accompanied by a surge in plasma leptin concentration (from 5.4-16.0 ng/ml). This was associated with: 1) an induction of uncoupling protein-2 (120%), 2) an increase in the phosphorylated form of AMP-activated protein kinase (120%), and 3) a reduction in lactate concentration and lactate dehydrogenase activity in myocardial tissue (40%). Because DIO induces leptin resistance, we analyzed leptin receptor functionality by measuring phospho-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 in response to acute leptin (1 mg/kg). We observed that leptin receptor signaling remained unaltered within the heart but was fully impaired within the hypothalamus. Taken together, these data show that during DIO development, there is a metabolic shift in the heart aimed at increasing fatty acid oxidation to the detriment of carbohydrates. This effect seems to be leptin-dependent, suggesting that the increased adiposity observed during the onset of obesity might contribute to impairing ectopic lipidic deposition in the heart.