Meeting Abstract

P2-148   -   Treatment with NSAID, but not steroid, curbs inflammation in adipose and pancreas during pre-hibernation fattening in ground squirrels Zur Tulod, J*; Tsengouras, A; Duddleston, K; Kurtz, C; University of Wisconsin Oshkosh; University of Wisconsin Oshkosh; University of Alaska Anchorage; University of Wisconsin Oshkosh kurtzc@uwosh.edu

As part of their annual cycle, 13-lined ground squirrels (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus) fatten during the summer months in preparation for hibernation. We have shown previously that this rapid adiposity is associated with inflammation in metabolic tissues. In this study, we fed fattening ground squirrels diets containing anti-inflammatory drugs for 10 weeks during the summer in an attempt to curb inflammation and adiposity. The diets contained either the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) mesalazine (to a dose of ~500 mg/kg) or the steroid budesonide (to a dose of ~1 mg/kg). Neither treatment influenced body mass, caloric intake or glucose tolerance. Mesalazine, but not budesonide, significantly decreased levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in omental white adipose tissue (oWAT) and pancreas. Furthermore, mesalazine, but not budesonide, increased levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in the oWAT. In general, mesalazine treatment was more effective in male ground squirrels. Our data suggest that mesalazine treatment can be an effective method to curb metabolic inflammation associated with fattening. Further studies are needed to optimize the dose and timing of treatment in order to also affect fattening in this species. Supported by NIH award 1R15GM124586-01A1.