High-fat diet-induced obesity accelerates puberty in male rats through SMIM20/phoenixin upregulation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Controversy exists regarding the relationship between obesity and pubertal onset in boys, and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

Objective

To establish a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity model in juvenile male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, and to investigate the relationship between obesity and pubertal advancement as well as the role of Smim20/phoenixin (PNX) in male pubertal development.

Methods

A HFD (45% fat) was administered to male SD rats to induce obesity, while control rats were maintained on a normal diet (ND) from birth. Body weight and preputial separation were monitored as markers of obesity and pubertal onset. At prepubertal (postnatal day 30, PND30) and early pubertal (PND40) stages, serum, hypothalamus, pituitary, testes, and ad

SUBMITTER: Xie T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12679827 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature