A diet containing cod backbone proteins attenuated the development of mesangial sclerosis and tubular dysfunction in male obese BTBR ob/ob mice

• Published in: European Journal of Nutrition
• Main Authors: O’Keeffe, Maria, Oterhals, Åge, Weishaupt, Hrafn, Leh, Sabine, Ulvik, Arve, Ueland, Per Magne, Halstensen, Alfred, Marti, Hans-Peter, Gudbrandsen, Oddrun Anita
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Springer Berlin Heidelberg 2023
• Subjects: Original Contribution; atlantic cod
• Online Access: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10611847/; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37550593; https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-023-03227-4

PURPOSE: The obese black and tan, brachyuric (BTBR) ob/ob mouse spontaneously develops features comparable to human diabetic nephropathy. The primary aim of the present study was to investigate if a diet containing fish proteins would attenuate or delay the development of glomerular hypertrophy (glomerulomegaly), mesangial sclerosis and albuminuria in obese BTBR ob/ob mice. METHODS: Obese BTBR.CgLep(ob)/WiscJ male mice were fed diets containing 25% of protein from Atlantic cod backbones and 75% of protein from casein (Cod-BB group), or casein as the sole protein source (control group). Kidneys were analysed morphologically, and markers for renal dysfunction were analysed biochemically in urine and serum. RESULTS: The Cod-BB diet attenuated the development of mesangial sclerosis (P 0.040) without affecting the development of glomerular hypertrophy and albuminuria. The urine concentration of cystatin C (relative to creatinine) was lower in mice fed the Cod-BB diet (P 0.0044). CONCLUSION: A diet containing cod backbone protein powder attenuated the development of mesangial sclerosis and tubular dysfunction in obese BTBR ob/ob mice, but did not prevent the development of glomerular hypertrophy and albuminuria in these mice. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00394-023-03227-4.