An unhealthy lifestyle is associated with metabolic disorders and
neuroinflammation. In this study, the efficacy of
m-trifluoromethyl-diphenyl diselenide [(m-CF3-PhSe)2] against lifestyle model-related metabolic disturbances and hypothalamic
inflammation in young mice was investigated. From postnatal day 25 (PND25) to 66, male Swiss mice were subjected to a lifestyle model, an energy-dense diet (20:20%
lard: corn syrup) and sporadic
ethanol (3x/week).
Ethanol was administrated intragastrically (i.g., 2 g/kg) to mice from PND45 to 60. From PND60 to 66, mice received (m-CF3-PhSe)2 (5 mg/kg/day; i. g). (m-CF3-PhSe)2 reduced relative abdominal adipose tissue weight,
hyperglycemia, and
dyslipidemia in mice exposed to the lifestyle-induced model. (m-CF3-PhSe)2 normalized hepatic
cholesterol and
triglyceride levels, and the activity of G-6-Pase increased in lifestyle-exposed mice. (m-CF3-PhSe)2 was effective in modulating
hepatic glycogen levels,
citrate synthase and
hexokinase activities,
protein levels of GLUT-2, p-IRS/IRS, p-AKT/AKT, redox homeostasis, and inflammatory profile of mice exposed to a lifestyle model. (m-CF3-PhSe)2 counteracted hypothalamic
inflammation and the
ghrelin receptor levels in mice exposed to the lifestyle model. (m-CF3-PhSe)2 reversed the decreased levels of GLUT-3, p-IRS/IRS, and the
leptin receptor in the hypothalamus of lifestyle-exposed mice. In conclusion, (m-CF3-PhSe)2 counteracted metabolic disturbances and hypothalamic
inflammation in young mice exposed to a lifestyle model.