Objective: To study the rules of changes in ob mRNA and its relation to hormone level in vivo in rats during their dynamic process to obesity induced by high-caloric fodder.
Methods: Level of ob mRNA in adipose tissues of rats was determined with dot-hybridization techniques, and levels of serum insulin and growth hormone were measured with radioimmunoassay.
Results: Level of ob mRNA in the fatty tissues and serum insulin level increased, but serum level of growth hormone decreased, with the increase in body weight of rats.
Conclusion: Increase in expression of ob mRNA could be the result, but not the cause, of obesity. Changes in the levels of ob mRNA, serum insulin and growth hormone indicated that they could affect each other and could be regulated by common metabolic signals.