The role of dietary fiber content on energy metabolism, thermogenesis, and leptin in Chevrier’s field mouse (Apodemus chevrieri)

Abstract

Food quality and availability are important factors influencing the survival and reproduction of animals. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of dietary fiber content high-fiber (HF) diet treatment or low-fiber (LF) diet treatment) on energy metabolism, thermogenesis, and leptin concentrations in Chevrier’s field mouse (Apodemus chevrieri (Milne-Edwards, 1868)) (Mammalia: Rodentia: Muridae). Mice on the HF treatment showed a lower body mass compared with LF treatment from day 27 to day 37, and a lower but insignificant body mass to day 71. Dry matter intake (DMI) and gross energy intake (GEI) were greater in HF compared with LF, whereas the digestible energy intake (DEI) was similar for both treatments. Nonshivering thermogenesis (NST) decreased in HF mice, whereas LF mice remained stable; no significant differences were detected in the basal metabolic rate (BMR), uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) content in brown adipose tissue (BAT), or the levels of serum tri-iodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) between HF and LF mice. Although there were no differences in body fat content and serum leptin concentrations between HF and LF mice, serum leptin levels were positively correlated with body fat mass. These results support the hypothesis that A. chevrieri can compensate the poor-quality diet physiologically by way of increasing food intake and decreasing thermogenesis.