الفهرس 
Leptin hormoneOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 194 |  |  |
| | | from | 194 | | |
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the impact of oral administration of
valsartan and folic acid to fat diet-induced obese male rats on the vascular
reactivity to the endothelial dependant vasorelaxant, ACh and the endothelial
independent one, Na nitroprusside, as well as on the serum levels of leptin and
some inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in an attempt to explore the
possible mechanisms behind their action.
Fifty male albino rats of local strain, at 6 weeks of age weighing 180 - 210 gm,
were used in this study. Animals were housed in spacious wire mesh, fully
ventilated cages (80x40x30 cm), at room temperature with free access to water.
Rats were randomly divided into five equal experimental groups, 10 animals
each:
1. Control (C) group: animals were fed a standard laboratory chow diet, and
were given 1 ml of distilled water by gastric gavage, once daily for 16 weeks.
2. Diet-induced obese (DO) group: animals were fed a highly palatable, highenergy
fat diet for 16 weeks, and were given distilled water as in C group.
3. Valsartan-treated diet-induced obese (VDO) group: animals were fed fat diet
as in DO group, and were given valsartan, in a dose of 30 mg/kg body weight
(BW) dissolved in 1 ml of distilled water, by gastric gavage, once daily for 16
weeks.
4. Folic acid-treated diet-induced obese (FDO) group: animals were fed fat diet
as in DO group, and were given folic acid, in a dose of 5 mg/kg BW [8]
dissolved in 1 ml of distilled water, by gastric gavage, once daily for 16 weeks.
5. Combined valsartan- and folic acid-treated diet-induced obese (VFDO)
group: animals were fed fat diet as in DO group, and both valsartan and folic
acid were given as in VDO and FDO groups, respectively.