Expression pattern of thermogenesis-related factors in interscapular brown adipose tissue of alloxan-treated rats: Beneficial effect of l-arginine

Metabolic abnormalities underlying diabetes can be abrogated by l-arginine. Here we examined the molecular basis of disturbed interscapular brown adipose tissue (IBAT) thermogenesis and the possible role of nitric oxide (NO) in the IBAT of diabetic rats. To induce diabetes, adult Mill Hill hybrid hooded male rats were given a single alloxan dose (120 mg/kg). Both non-diabetic and diabetic groups were further divided into three subgroups receiving: (i) l-arginine·HCl (2.25%) or (ii) N^ω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME·HCl, 0.01%) for 12 days in drinking water and (iii) untreated controls. Treatment of the diabetic animals started after diabetes induction (glucose level ?12 mmol/L). Diabetes led to a decrease in the mRNA levels of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), peroxisomal proliferator activator receptor gamma (PPARγ) and endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) as revealed by RT-PCR. The diabetic rats had reduced eNOS and inducible NOS (iNOS) protein contents accompanied by low tissue vascularization, a parameter directly related to tissue thermogenic state. Downregulation of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) transcripts were also observed in diabetes. In contrast, the expression level of PPARγ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) mRNA was elevated. Supplementation with l-arginine not only restored diabetes-induced changes in the expressions of these molecules important for IBAT regulation, but also increased the vascularity. Interestingly, l-NAME induced similar patterns of changes in vascularity and PGC-1α mRNA level as did l-arginine. In summary, our results provide insight into the molecular basis underlying diabetes-induced metabolic and functional disturbances in the IBAT and suggest a beneficial role for the l-arginine–NO production pathway.