Investigation of Endocrine Disrupting and Obesogenic Effects of Several Pharmaceuticals That are Exposed in the Early Stages of Life
Project no. 23558 · Status: Kapanmış · 2022
Summary
<p>In recent years, the incidence of obesity and related diseases has dramatically increased. While obesity is considered a standalone disease by the World Health Organization, it is also a significant concern due to its role in the development of various secondary diseases. It is often associated with health issues such as metabolic disorders like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, psychological and social problems, reproductive disorders, and certain types of cancer. The dramatic rise in obesity cases cannot solely be explained by high-calorie diets and insufficient physical activity, bringing the role of chemicals in the development of obesity into focus.</p><p>The contribution of chemicals to obesity has been demonstrated in in vitro and in vivo studies. These studies have shown that certain chemicals, which influence metabolic processes and adipocyte function, contribute to obesity development and are termed “obesogens.” Obesogens induce obesity by increasing adipocyte number/size, interacting with endocrine pathways that regulate adipose tissue development, and altering the levels of hormones that control appetite, satiety, and food preferences. Understanding the mechanisms of action of obesogens, identifying new chemicals with obesogenic effects, and controlling exposure to these chemicals are critical steps. These efforts are vital for preventing obesity, managing related diseases, and protecting human health.</p><p>The aim of this thesis project is to partially validate in vitro methods for identifying potential obesogenic substances using 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cells and to implement these methods in our laboratory. For this purpose Tributyltin and Rosiglitazone, reference compounds known to have adipogenic effects, will be used. The differentiation of preadipocytes into mature adipocytes incubated with these compounds will be determined through microscopic analysis, Oil Red O staining, and Western Blot methods, thus achieving partial validation of the methods. In this way, an in vitro method that enables the investigation of the obesogenic potential of chemical substances, including drugs, will be implemented in our laboratory.</p>