Fig. 1

TNF-α contributes to glucose intolerance and increased insulin levels in HFD-fed mice. OGTT was performed in C57Bl/6J and TNF-α KO mice fed with control or HFD diets (for 18 weeks). After a 6 h-fasting period, baseline blood glucose was measured. Mice received 2 mg/kg glucose by gavage and blood samples were collected at 30, 60, 90 and 120 min after the challenge (a). Area under the curve (AUC) in the plot of blood glucose concentration against time (b). Insulin plasma levels (c). HOMA-IR index (d). Results represent the mean ± S.E.M. n = 7–8 in each experimental group. *p < 0.05 vs. C57Bl/6J Control, ^#p < 0.05 vs. C57Bl/6J HFD