Figure 4.

Elevated energy expenditure in BCATm null mice is associated with food consumption and is partially blunted by Rapamycin

A) Oxygen consumption (VO₂, left panel), respiratory quotient (RQ, middle panel), and food intake (FI, right panel). Male mice fed a choice of amino acid purified BCAA-containing (+BCAA) and BCAA-free diet for 4 weeks were placed in indirect calorimetry chambers at the age of ~16 weeks. Food intake was measured for 3 weeks and calculated as average daily values. It was also adjusted for body weight (25g). * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01 and *** P < 0.001, n=8.

B) VO₂ (left panel) and RQ (right panel) during fasted-refed. Male mice fed a mix of NC and −BCAA diets were fasted for 21 h and refed with a choice of NC and BCAA diets. VO₂ and RQ were measured during fasting (light and dark phases) and a 3-h refeeding period. * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01 and *** P < 0.001, n=6.

C). VO₂ after treated with rapamycin during fasted-refed. 12–15 week old mice were i.p. injected with 0.75 mg/kg of rapamycin at 11 a.m. and fasted for 21 h and injected again with the same dose of rapamycin. Food was provided 1-h after second injection for 3 h. VO₂ was measured during the dark phase and refeeding. One way ANOVA was used to compare VO₂ among groups under each nutritional condition. No difference was found between groups during fasting. * P < 0.05 between groups during refed, n=8–11.