Sexual Dimorphism in Serum Kisspeptin Level in Experimentally Induced Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Adult Albino Rats

Medical Physiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt

^*Corresponding Author

Dr. Reham Hassan Ibrahim

Medical Physiology Department,

Faculty of Medicine,

Zagazig University

Egypt

E-mail: phisiology_lover_4@yahoo.com 

Abstract

Background: non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) pathophysiology is not properly understood, studies have demonstrated gender differences in prevalence of NAFLD and severity of the disease. Insulin resistance (IR) is well known to play a key role in NAFLD pathogenesis. kisspeptin neuropeptide (KISS1) is main regulator of reproduction. It is thought that kisspeptin has a metabolic role outside its function in reproduction, its association with insulin resistance and its effects on insulin secretion have conflicting results, in addition, Kisspeptin signaling has a different effect on metabolism in male and female rats.

Objective: To clarify a possible sexual dimorphism in the interaction between kisspeptin and pathogenesis of high fat diet (HFD) induced NAFLD in adult male and female albino rats. Material and methods: 20 male and 20 female adult albino rats were used. The animals were divided to 4 equal subgroups: group (Ia): control male rats; group (Ib): HFD male rats; group (IIa): control female rats; group (IIb): HFD female rats. In all groups, BMI, kisspeptin serum levels, glucose, insulin (with calculation of HOMA-IR), lipid profile, glucagon, ALT, AST, LH, FSH, progesterone, estradiol (E2) and testosterone were measured and histopathological liver injury scoring was made.

Results: HFD male and female groups (group Ib and group IIb respectively) showed significant increase in BMI, serum glucose, insulin levels, HOMA-IR index, glucagon, TC, TG, LDL, AST, ALT levels with significant decrease in serum HDL in the same groups. However, the percentage of changes in these parameters was higher in male than female rats. Histopathological examination of HFD groups revealed a non- alcoholic steatohepatitis in group Ib and border line steatosis in group IIb with significantly higher hepatic injury score in group Ib in comparison to group IIb. Serum kisspeptin increased significantly in HFD male group Ib, while it decreased significantly in HFD female group IIb relative to their controls. Moreover group Ib showed a significant increase in serum estradiol, significant decrease in serum testosterone and non-significant change in serum progesterone, LH and FSH. In group IIb, a significant increase in serum progesterone level was found, while a non-significant change was found in serum estradiol, testosterone, LH and FSH. Conclusions: The present study suggested that kisspeptin may play a role in the pathogenesis of NAFLD in male rather than in female rats.

Keywords: NAFLD, Sexual dimorphism, Kisspeptin, Insulin resistance

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