Plant & Animal Genome IX Conference

Poster: Genes & Pathways
P07_14.html

DIETS CONTAINING HIGH ISOFLAVONE SOY PROTEIN ALTER EXPRESSION OF KEY GENES IN OBESE RATS

Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Carbondale, IL 62901

Previous data from these researchers demonstrated a marked effect of high- and low-isoflavone soy protein diets on platelet, lipid and liver parameters in male lean and obese rats. This study was designed to further investigate the genes involved in the effect of soy diets on glucose tolerance and liver parameters in female obese rats. Female obese Zucker rats were assigned to one of three diet groups: High-Isoflavone soy protein (HS); Low-Isoflavone soy protein (LS); or Non-soy (Casein) protein (C) diets. During the ten-week study, body weight, feed intake and feed efficiency ratio (FER) were assessed. Additionally a Glucose tolerance test was performed and plasma, abdominal fat pads, liver and reproductive organs were collected, weighed and frozen for subsequent analysis. The HS diet attenuated (P<.025) fatty liver as compared to LS and C diets. The HS diet also improved (P<.005) glucose tolerance relative to LS and C diets. Differential display of mRNA using 24 primer combinations amplified 2,500 rat liver genes out of which approximately 5% were differentially expressed in response to the two dietary treatments. The genes with altered expression includes those involved in triglyceride and glucose metabolism, fusion of transport of vesicles, those involved in cancer susceptibilities and apoptosis. In conclusion, a diet rich in high isoflavone soy-protein provided protective benefits regarding development of fatty liver and glucose intolerance in female obese rats and key genes are modulated in this process. This project was supported by the Illinois Council on Food and Agriculture Research and Protein Technologies International.