Esophagus-duodenum Gastric Bypass Surgery Improves Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in Mice

BACKGROUND: Despite of its significant therapeutic effects on obesity and metabolic diseases, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) has limited clinical application because of considerable impacts on the gastrointestinal structure and postoperative complications. This study aims to develop a simplified surgical approach with less damage and complication but efficient metabolic benefit. METHODS: The effects of Esophagus-Duodenum gastric bypass (EDGB) on body weight, food intake, glucose and lipid metabolism were compared to RYGB in mice. FINDINGS: EDGB is simple, has higher survival rate and less complication. Relative to RYGB, EDGB demonstrated modest body weight control, identical improvement of glucose and lipid metabolism in obese mice. Blood glucose increased significantly 15 and 30 min after oral glucose administration, then markedly decreased in both EDGB and RYGB groups relative to the sham surgery, indicating a quicker absorption of oral glucose and improvement in glucose uptake by insulin targeted tissues. Insulin sensitivity was identically improved. EDGB significantly decreased plasma and hepatic triglyceride levels, while increased browning in visceral and subcutaneous white adipose tissue to the extent identical to RYGB. Levels of ghrelin and nesfatin-1 increased significantly after EDGB and RYGB. INTERPRETATION: EDGB is a valuable model to study the metabolic benefit of bariatric surgery in mice.