Gender Effects on Adrenergic Receptor Expression and Lipolysis in White Adipose Tissue of Rats |
| |
Authors: | Isabel Llad ,Sergio Rodrí guez‐Cuenca,Esperanza Pujol,Marta Monjo,M. Elena Estrany,Pilar Roca,Andreu Palou |
| |
Affiliation: | Isabel Lladó,Sergio Rodríguez‐Cuenca,Esperanza Pujol,Marta Monjo,M. Elena Estrany,Pilar Roca,Andreu Palou |
| |
Abstract: | Objective: To investigate the effects of short‐term (15 days) cafeteria‐diet feeding on the expression of α‐ and β‐adrenergic receptors (AR) and its association with lipolytic stimulation in isolated retroperitoneal white adipocytes. Research Methods and Procedures: Six female and 6 male Wistar rats (4 weeks old) were fed a cafeteria diet plus standard diet for 15 days. The remaining 12 age‐ and sex‐matched rats received a standard diet only. White retroperitoneal adipose tissue was isolated and used for the determination of both α2 and β‐AR expression and for in vitro studies of lipolytic activity. Results: In female control rats, we found higher lipolytic capacities located at the postreceptor level and a lower α2/β3‐AR ratio than male rats. Cafeteria‐diet feeding for 15 days decreased lipolytic activity in both male and female rats and altered the α2A‐ and β3‐AR protein levels with an increase of α2A‐AR in males and a β3‐AR decrease in females. Discussion: Our results indicate that a 15‐day cafeteria‐diet feeding induced an increase in the α2/β3‐AR balance and impaired adipose tissue lipolytic activity, which was higher in males and may contribute to the development of increased fat mass. The higher functionality of α2‐AR, together with the minor role developed by β3‐AR and lower lipolytic capacities located at the postreceptor level in cafeteria‐diet‐fed male rats compared with female rats, may be responsible for the gender‐dependent differences observed in this study. |
| |
Keywords: | α 2‐ β 3‐adrenergic receptor balance high‐fat diet lipolytic activity sex differences rodents |
|
|