Figure 1. Diet-induced obesity accelerated colonic transit and increased mesenteric and epididymal adipose tissue mass, adipocyte size and expression of the adipokines leptin, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP1) (12 weeks of feeding).

The shorter bead expulsion time indicated faster colonic transit in DIO mice (A). Mesenteric (B) and epididymal (C) fat mass was increased in DIO mice. Adipocyte sizes were also increased in both fat tissues (D). Images in (E) illustrate representative examples of adipocytes in mesenteric and epididymal fat revealed by haematoxylin and eosin staining; scale bar applies to all images. Expression of leptin, IL-6 and MCP1 was increased in DIO mice in both mesenteric (F) and epididymal (G) fat. Numbers in parentheses indicate number of animals. Asterisks mark significant changes, see text for P values. DIO, diet-induced obese mice; GAPDH, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase; ND, mice receiving normal diet.