Beschreibung:
<jats:p>Consumption of non‐nutritive sweeteners has been related to changes in feeding behavior and energy metabolism that may lead to weight gain and insulin resistance under specific circumstances. The molecular mechanisms related to these effects have not been thoroughly determined, but chronic low‐grade inflammation in adipose tissue is known to affect leukocyte recruitment and adipocyte functions in these pathologies.</jats:p><jats:p>The main objective of this study was to determine the morphological characteristics of adipocytes and leucocyte recruitment to gonadal and mesenteric adipose tissue in mice supplemented with commercial non‐nutritive sweetener formulations. Adult male and female BALB/c mice were randomly assigned into experimental (sucralose or steviol glycosides) and control (no supplementation) groups. Non‐nutritive sweeteners were supplemented for 6 weeks in daily drinking water. At the end of treatment, the animals were sacrificed and gonadal and mesenteric tissues were obtained to assess adipocyte morphology and leucocyte infiltration by histochemical staining and bright‐field microscopy.</jats:p><jats:p>The results show that gonadal and mesenteric tissue from both male and female mice treated with either sucralose or esteviol glycosides had altered adipocyte morphology, with increased adipocyte size compared to controls. Additionally, a decreased number of adipocytes was observed in male mice from both sweetener groups. Male mice supplemented with steviol glycosides also had decreased leucocyte infiltration in gonadal and mesenteric adipose tissue, compared to controls.</jats:p><jats:p>Altogether, our results suggest that frequent intake of commercial non‐nutritive sweeteners induces changes to adipocyte morphology and leucocyte infiltration in adipose tissue that may be relevant for metabolic changes associated to weight gain/loss in individuals that use these compounds in their regular diet.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Support or Funding Information</jats:bold></jats:p><jats:p>Consejo Mexiquense de Ciencia y Tecnología</jats:p><jats:p>This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in <jats:italic>The FASEB Journal</jats:italic>.</jats:p>