# Lipid profile, lipoprotein and apolipoprotein composition, and intestinal fat absorption efficiency in germ-free and conventional mice

> **NIH NIH U2C** · UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI · 2020 · $168,199

## Abstract

Summary
Despite the enormous literature of studies involving both germ-free and conventional mice, it is still largely
unclear about the lipid profile, lipoprotein distribution and apolipoprotein content as analyzed by FPLC, and
the difference in intestinal lipid absorption efficiency between germ-free animals and conventional animals.
The goal of this supplemental grant is to obtain these data through a collaboration among the germ-free
core, microbiome core and the phenotyping core at the University of Michigan and the lipid and the
lipoprotein Core at the University of Cincinnati. This collaboration will yield data complementary to the
current collaboration of the microbiome project conducted by Michigan, Vanderbilt, and UC Davis. The
proposed research is highly feasible because there is no need to transfer live mice between these two
centers. Instead, we will take advantage of the resources and expertise of the two centers. We have
proposed the following two specific aims to achieve the goal. In Aim 1, we will determine the lipid profile
and apolipoprotein composition in both male and female germ-free mice that will be fed a semi-purified diet
fortified with low fat diet or high fat diet. Half of the animals will be colonized while the other half will remain
germ free. In Aim 2, we will determine the difference in intestinal fat absorption between the male and
female germ-free and conventional mice using a well-established non-invasive method. The proposed
research is important because the completion of the proposed studies will tell us how chronic feeding of
semi-purified high- and low-fat diets influence the changes in the lipid profile, lipoprotein and apolipoprotein
composition. Without this information, it is difficult to understand how microbiome affects lipid and
lipoprotein metabolism, as well as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity. Additionally, the
completion of the non-invasive fat absorption studies will support our hypothesis that the germ-free animals
are not absorbing lipid as well as the conventional animals. This is based on our antibiotics study published
in Gastroenterology. If indeed this is the case, future experiments will be conducted to define the link
between microbiome and intestinal lipid transport as chylomicrons. We foresee numerous collaborations
between our two MMPCs.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10239630
- **Project number:** 3U2CDK059630-20S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
- **Principal Investigator:** PATRICK TSO
- **Activity code:** U2C (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $168,199
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2001-03-01 → 2021-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10239630

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10239630, Lipid profile, lipoprotein and apolipoprotein composition, and intestinal fat absorption efficiency in germ-free and conventional mice (3U2CDK059630-20S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10239630. Licensed CC0.

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