Adult male transgenic mice overexpressing H6PDH under the adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (aP2) gene (aP2/H6PDH Tg) and their age-matched (10 weeks) wild-type (WT) C57blk/6 control mice were bred and genotyped, as previously described.19 (link) Eight animals have been used for each experimental group, the numbers of animal used were determined to achieve desired power of 0.8. Animals were housed in standard SPF conditions under a 12:12-h light-dark cycle with water ad libitum. Mice were maintained on either a control diet (Research Diets D12328) or a HFD (45 % energy from Fat, Research Diets D12451; Research Diets Inc., New Brunswick, NJ, USA) for 4 or 14 weeks. For each genotype, mice are divided randomly into the control diet or HFD group. Food intake and body weights were recorded weekly. At the end of the experiments, blood samples were collected, and adipose fat depots were weighed, dissected and frozen rapidly in liquid nitrogen. Animal protocols were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the Charles R. Drew University (Los Angeles, California, USA). Blood samples were analyzed for insulin and FFA levels using ELISA kit (Abcam, Cambridge, MA, USA), as previously described.18 (link)