2001-P: Thermoneutrality Dissociates Glucose Tolerance from Insulin Sensitivity in Rats

Thermoneutrality (TN) has been used to induce weight gain in rodent models of obesity. We hypothesized that TN would potentiate high-fat diet (HFD) impairment of vascular reactivity, diminish vascular mitochondrial function, and induce insulin resistance. Male rats aged 5-7 weeks were housed at room temperature (RT=23 C) or TN (29 C) and fed a low-fat diet (LFD) or HFD for 10-16 weeks. Aortic vasomotion and mitochondrial respiration (Oroboros O2k) were measured at the end of the study. Intraperitoneal glucose and insulin tolerance tests (IP-GTT and IP-ITT) were done at baseline and endpoint. Animals housed at TN had impaired vasodilation regardless of diet (effect of temperature, p Disclosure A.C. Keller: None. L. Knaub: None. S.E. Hull: None. R.L. Scalzo: None. L.A. Walker: None. J.E.B. Reusch: Board Member; Self; American Diabetes Association. Other Relationship; Self; Merck & Co., Inc. Funding U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (BX003185-01A2, BX002046, CX001532); National Institutes of Health (5T32HL007171)