Body weight in female rats supplemented with green tea polyphenols (GTP) in drinking water for 4 months.

<p>Body weight (g) of the control, HF, and HF+GTP treated rats at 0–8 months. Values are mean (n = 10–12) with their standard error (SE) represented by vertical bars. * P<0.05 between the control and HF groups; # P<0.05 between the HF and HF+GTP groups; ∧P<0.01 between the control and HF+GTP groups.</p

The changes of obesity-related genes among the control, HF, and HF+GTP groups.

<p>(A) Representative PCR array gene tables of undetected genes and detected genes. (B) The heat map demonstrating fold regulation expression data between the HF group and the control group. Genes with significant differences between two groups are shown in the histogram. (C) The heat map demonstrating fold regulation expression data between the HF+GTP group and the HF group. Genes with significant differences between two groups are shown in the histogram. (D) The heat map demonstrating fold regulation expression data between the HF+GTP group and the control group. Genes with significant differences between two groups are shown in the histogram.</p

Proinflammatory cytokines changes among the control, HF, and HF+GTP groups.

<p>Results are expressed as mean±SE. # P<0.05 between the HF and HF+GTP groups.</p

Rat obesity PCR Array.

<p>(A) Functional gene grouping in 3 colors: orexigenic genes in red, anorectic genes in yellow, and genes involved in energy expenditure in green. (B) The C_T value of quality control used rat genomic DNA.</p

Western blot analyses of protein expression in the control, HF, and HF+GTP groups.

<p>(A) Effects of HF and HF+GTP treatment on the protein expression of SOD1. (B) Effects of HF and HF+GTP treatment on the protein expression of COMT. Blots were also probed for α-tubulin to confirm equal protein loading. The relative protein intensities of SOD1 and COMT were compared with the intensity of α-tubulin. The intensity of each band was quantified using Quantity One software. Data are means±SE, n = 3. The experiments were conducted in triplicate. * P<0.05 between the control and HF groups; ** P<0.01 between the control and HF groups; ## P<0.01 between HF and HF+GTP; ∧∧P<0.01 between the control and HF+GTP groups.</p

The symbol and description of genes in the PCR array.

<p>The symbol and description of genes in the PCR array.</p

A Novel <i>igf3</i> Gene in Common Carp (<i>Cyprinus carpio</i>): Evidence for Its Role in Regulating Gonadal Development

<div><p>Since the insulin-like growth factor 3 (<i>igf3</i>) gene was recently discovered in fish ovary, its function in the gonads has received much attention. In this study, we isolated two <i>igf3</i> subtypes from common carp (<i>Cyprinus carpio</i>), which comprised full-length cDNA of 707 and 1153 nucleotides encoding 205 and 198 amino acids (aa), respectively. The Igf3 aa sequence had the highest gene homology of 72% with the corresponding sequence in zebrafish (<i>Danio rerio</i>). Phylogenetic tree construction revealed that the <i>C</i>. <i>carpio igf3</i> gene was first clustered with <i>D</i>. <i>rerio</i> and then with other teleost species. <i>Igf3</i> mRNA was widely expressed, with expression being highest in the gonads and blood. In the gonad development stage, <i>igf3a</i> mRNA expression was highest in the maturity and recession stage of the ovary, and decline phase of the testis, while <i>igf3b</i> was highest in the recession and fully mature periods of the ovaries and testes, respectively. Western blotting of testis protein samples showed two bands of approximately 21 kDa and 34 kDa corresponding to the calculated molecular mass of the two Igf3 subtypes; no signal was detected in the ovary. The Igf3 protein was localized in the ovary granulosa cells and testis spermatogonium and spermatids. 17β-Ethinylestradiol treatment increased both ovary and testis <i>igf3</i> mRNA expression. These findings suggest that Igf3 may play an important role in <i>C</i>. <i>carpio</i> gonadal development.</p></div

Profile of <i>igf3a</i> (A) and <i>igf3b</i> (B) mRNA expression in adult <i>C</i>. <i>carpio</i>.

<p>Blood (Bl), ovary (Ov), testis (Te), kidney (Ki), intestine (In), liver (Li), skin (Sk), spleen (Sp), heart (He), muscle (Mu), brain (Br).</p

Immunohistochemistry localization of Igf3 in <i>C</i>. <i>carpio</i> testis and ovary.

<p>Positive signals of anti-Igf3 immunolabeling are shown in brown. Igf3 was expressed in the spermatogonium (<b>C)</b> and spermatids (<b>E</b>)of the testis. Igf3 was expressed in the follicle cells (<b>D</b>) and granulosa cells of the ovary (<b>F</b>). A negative control for the testis (<b>A</b>) and ovary (<b>B</b>). Sg, spermatogonium; St, spermatids; F, follicle cell; G, granulosa cell.</p

Primer sequences.

<p>Primer sequences.</p