microRNAs from rat muscle derived stem cells treated with lipid factors

This is to test whether exposure to lipids has an effect, particularly a damaging effect, on stem cells. Overall design: Muscle derived stem cells were grown in tissue culture and treated with serum from early or late diabetic animals or with cholesterol or with palmitic acid. Serum from non-obese animals is referred to as LZ serum, while serum from an obese strain of animals is referred to as OZ serum. Cholesterol complexed to cyclodextrin is water soluble and is referred to as cholesterol or water soluble cholesterol. Since the palmitic acid is prepared in the presence of bovine serum albumin, an albumin control is also used. Rat strains referred to as ZL4 and ZF4 refer to animals of non-obese and obese type respectively.