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Horm Metab Res 2002; 34(11/12): 629-634
DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-38252
Original Basic
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Effect of Acute Cold Exposure on the Expression of the Adiponectin, Resistin and Leptin Genes in Rat White and Brown Adipose Tissues

M.  Puerta 1 , M.  Abelenda 1 , M.  Rocha 1 , P.  Trayhurn 2
  • 1 Department of Animal Biology II (Physiology), Faculty of Biological Sciences, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
  • 2 Liverpool Centre for Nutritional Genomics, Neuroendocrine & Obesity Biology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Liverpool, University Clinical Departments, Liverpool, UK
Further Information

Publication History

Received 11 October 2002

Accepted after revision 15 November 2002

Publication Date:
27 March 2003 (online)

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Abstract

Leptin, adiponectin, and resistin are key hormones produced by adipose tissue. In the present study, we have examined the effects of acute cold exposure (18 h at 6 °C) on the expression of the genes encoding these hormones in both brown and white fat of rats. Acute cold exposure resulted in a significant (p < 0.001) increase in the level of UCP1 and metallothionein-1 mRNAs in brown adipose tissue, indicative of an activation of thermogenesis. Leptin mRNA was decreased (p < 0.001) in brown fat in the cold, and there was also a small but statistically significant (p < 0.05) decrease in adiponectin mRNA; resistin mRNA did not change significantly (p > 0.05). In white fat, the level of leptin mRNA also fell in the cold (p < 0.05), but there was no significant change (p > 0.05) in either adiponectin or resistin mRNA. The serum concentration of adiponectin was unchanged following acute cold exposure. We conclude that while leptin gene expression is inhibited by exposure to cold, there is no major effect on the expression of either the adiponectin or resistin genes in white or brown fat despite the cold-induced stimulation of sympathetic activity and fatty acid flux. Thus, adiponectin and resistin are unlikely to play a key role in the extensive metabolic adaptations to cold.

Key words

Adiponectin - Resistin - Leptin - Cold - mRNA - Brown Adipose Tissue - White Adipose Tissue - Sympathetic Activity

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Prof. M. Puerta

Department of Animal Biology II (Physiology)

Faculty of Biological Sciences · Complutense University · 28040 Madrid · Spain ·

Phone: + 34 (91) 394-49 90 ·

Fax: + 34 (91) 394-49 35

Email: mpuerta@bio.ucm.es