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Title: Lipid metabolism, adipocyte depot physiology and utilization of meat animals as experimental models for metabolic research

Author
item DODSON, M - Washington State University
item Hausman, Gary
item GUAN, L - University Of Alberta
item DU, M - University Of Wyoming
item RASMUSSEN, T - University Of Connecticut
item POULOS, S - Coca-Cola Company
item MIR, P - Agriculture And Agri-Food Canada
item BERGEN, W - Auburn University
item FERNYHOUGH, M - The Hartz Mountain Corporation
item MCFARLAND, D - South Dakota State University
item RHOADS, R - University Of Illinois
item SORET, B - Public University Of Navarra
item REECY, J - Iowa State University
item VELLEMAN, S - The Ohio State University
item ZIANG, Z - Washington State University

Submitted to: International Journal of Biological Sciences
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/22/2010
Publication Date: 11/22/2010
Citation: Dodson, M.V., Hausman, G.J., Guan, L.L., Du, M., Rasmussen, T.P., Poulos, S.P., Mir, P., Bergen, W.G., Fernyhough, M.E., Mcfarland, D.C., Rhoads, R.P., Soret, B., Reecy, J.M., Velleman, S.G., Ziang, Z. 2010. Lipid metabolism, adipocyte depot physiology and utilization of meat animals as experimental models for metabolic research. International Journal of Biological Sciences. 6(7):691-9.

Interpretive Summary: A number of experimental cell cultures and cell preparations from farm animals can be just as effective for biomedical purposes as the typical rat and mouse models. Farm animals are also very good models for fat cell studies because of their economic value for animal production. Major farm animals are valuable as models for studying fat metabolism and consequently represent an alternative effective model of the metbolic syndrome.

Technical Abstract: Meat animals are unique as experimental models for both lipid metabolism and adipocyte studies because of their direct economic value for animal production. This paper discusses the principles that regulate adipogenesis in major meat animals (beef cattle, dairy cattle, and pigs), the definition of adipose depot-specific regulation of lipid metabolism or adipogenesis, and introduces the potential value of these animals as models for metabolic research including mammary biology and the ontogeny of fatty livers.