Reduced Organ Growth When Hyperphagia Is Prevented in Genetically Obese (fa/fa) Zucker Rats

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Abstract
Restricting the food intake of the genetically obese rat throughout life to that eaten by its lean littermate normalized body wt, but not body composition, compared to lean controls at 15 wk of age. By 33 wk of age the body wt of the restricted fatties were greater than those of lean controls but less than those of ad lib-fed fatties. The weights of muscle, kidney, liver and brain were decreased in restricted fatties. For the muscle and kidney significant decreases in DNA and protein content occurred in restricted fatties in comparison with both ad lib-fed lean or obese controls. In the brain and liver more subtle but significant growth alterations were noted. The ability of the calorically restricted obese rat to maintain its obese body composition occurs at the expense of normal growth in other organs and tissues.