Chronic glucocorticoid exposure-induced epididymal adiposity is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction in white adipose tissue of male C57BL/6J mice.
Prolonged and excessive glucocorticoids (GC) exposure resulted from Cushing's syndrome or GC therapy develops central obesity. Moreover, mitochondria are crucial in adipose energy homeostasis. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that mitochondrial dysfunction may contribute to chronic GC exposure-induced epididymal adiposity in the present study. A total of thirty-six 5-week-old male C57BL/6J mice (∼20 g) were administrated with 100 µg/ml corticosterone (CORT) or vehicle through drinking water for 4 weeks. Chronic CORT exposure mildly decreased body weight without altering food and water intake in mice. The epididymal fat accumulation was increased, but adipocyte size was decreased by CORT. CORT also increased plasma CORT, insulin, leptin, and fibroblast growth factor 21 concentrations as measured by RIA or ELISA. Interestingly, CORT increased plasma levels of triacylglycerols and nonesterified fatty acids, and up-regulated the expression of both lipolytic and lipogenic genes as determined by real-time RT-PCR. Furthermore, CORT impaired mitochondrial biogenesis and oxidative function in epididymal WAT. The reactive oxygen species production was increased and the activities of anti-oxidative enzymes were reduced by CORT treatment as well. Taken together, these findings reveal that chronic CORT administration-induced epididymal adiposity is, at least in part, associated with mitochondrial dysfunction in mouse epididymal white adipose tissue.
Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China.
Jie
J
Yu
Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China.
Bing
B
Yu
Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China.
Jun
J
He
Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China.
Ping
P
Zheng
Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China.
Xiangbing
X
Mao
Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China; College of Food Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, 625014, People's Republic of China.
Guoquan
G
Han
Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China.
Daiwen
D
Chen
D052436:Adipose Tissue, White / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D050154:Adiposity / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D004822:Epididymis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000097:blood; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014280:Triglycerides; C414620:fibroblast growth factor 21; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D003345:Corticosterone