Adipocyte diameter distributions and body fat contents of sedentary and exercised female Zucker rats.
The objective was to determine whether adipocyte diameter distributions were asymmetric in lean and obese female Zucker rats under conditions of ordinary activity (sedentary controls) as well as under conditions of enforced treadmill exercise. In sedentary animals, adipocyte diameter distributions were asymmetric in both lean and obese rats. Exercise abolished the asymmetry and markedly reduced body fat content of lean rats but had no such effects in obese ones. In contrast, exercise had no effect on average adipocyte diameter in either lean or obese rats. Results suggest that ability of exercise to reduce body fat content is more closely related to a decreased proportion of small adipocytes than to decreased average adipocyte diameter in female Zucker rats.
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition; D005260:Female; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology; D005082:Physical Exertion; D051381:Rats; D011924:Rats, Zucker; D013045:Species Specificity