Adiposity induced by adenovirus 5 inoculation.

Abstract

To investigate the effect of viral inoculation by adenovirus 5 (Ad5) on body composition in a mouse model. Longitudinal monitoring before and after a single injection of virus or saline. Two groups of CD1 mice, one group given a single intraperitoneal dose of Ad5 and the control group, saline. Bodyweights and food intake were recorded before and up to 21 weeks after inoculation. At the end of the study, whole-body 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and localised in vivo 1H MRS spectroscopy of the liver was performed to assess whole-body adiposity and intrahepatic lipid content, respectively. Ad5-treated animals gained significantly more weight over a period of 21 weeks after inoculation than the controls, 21.8 g (18.8-25.0) and 18.8 g (17.3-19.8) respectively, (P<0.05). The gain in bodyweight in the former animals arises from increased deposition of adipose tissue as measured by whole-body 1H MRS. Adiposity was 6.7% (3.10-11.20%), and 2.40% (0.85-5.65%) for the Ad5-treated and control animals, respectively (P<0.05). No significant difference in intrahepatic lipid content or food intake was observed between the two groups. The significantly higher percentage of adipose tissue in the Ad5-treated mice suggest viral infection may play a contributory role to a predisposition to obesity, although its contribution relative to other factors remains to be determined.