Fig. 1.

Experimental protocol. After a week of acclimation, all mice were divided into 3 groups matched by body weight and then administered 0.3% (W/V) trehalose or 0.3% (W/V) maltose in drinking water, or water alone. Interscapular and rectal temperature and non-fasting blood glucose were measured every 3 weeks (n = 16, group A + group B). The mice were euthanized at 16 weeks. Histological examination and analysis of adipose tissues and measurement of serum FGF-21 protein were performed using samples from 8 mice (group A). Analysis of gene expression in adipose tissues were performed another 8 mice (group B). FGF-21: fibroblast growth factor-21