Background/Aims: GPR43 and GPR120 have
recently been deorphanised as receptors for fatty
acids. Fatty acids mediate a variety of metabolic
processes in the body, however, the effect these
receptors have on metabolism is not fully understood.
Here, we characterise the effect of diet-induced
obesity on the expression of GPR43 and GPR120 in
tissues important in maintaining metabolic health.
Methods: Six-week old male Sprague Dawley rats
were fed either a high fat diet (HFD; 22% fat) or
control diet (5% fat; n = 8-9/group) for 12 weeks. Rats
were euthanized and the heart, liver, soleus and
extensor digitorum longus (EDL) skeletal muscles
were excised. GPR43 and GPR120 receptor
abundance was quantified by ‘real-time’ PCR. Results:
GPR43 mRNA abundance was significantly
up-regulated by a HFD in liver and soleus and EDL
skeletal muscles compared to control (p ≤ 0.05). Whilst
a HFD significantly up-regulated GPR120 gene
transcripts in cardiac tissue and EDL skeletal
muscle when compare to control (p ≤ 0.05).
Conclusion: We have shown for the first time that
up-regulation of GPR43 and GPR120 in response to
a HFD, is tissue specific. This suggests these
receptors have different roles in mediating metabolic
function in a number of tissues in the human
body.