Troglitazone Regulates white Adipose Tissue Metabolism by Activating Genes Involved in Fatty Acid ${\beta}$-Oxidation in High Fat Diet-fed C57BL/6J Mice

This study aimed to determine whether troglitazone stimulates genes related to fatty acid ${\beta}$-oxidation, leading to modulation of white adipose tissue (WAT) metabolism in high fat diet-fed mice. Female C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into two groups (n=10/group). After they received either a high fat diet or the same high fat diet supplemented with troglitazone for 4 weeks, the effects of troglitazone on gene expression and physiology of WAT were measured using Northern, histological and serological analyses. Administration of troglitazone induced the expression of genes involved in mitochondrial and peroxisomal fatty acid ${\beta}$-oxidation in mesenteric WAT. Troglitazone also significantly increased uncoupling protein 2 mRNA levels. The changes in WAT gene expression were accompanied by reductions in circulating levels of free fatty acids and triglycerides as well as glucose and insulin. Histological studies showed that troglitazone treatment decreased the average size of adipocytes in mesenteric WAT. These results suggest that troglitazone-stimulated WAT expression of genes associated with fatty acid ${\beta}$-oxidation regulates WAT metabolism of high fat diet-fed mice, contributing to improvement of insulin sensitivity.