• Development and Reproduction
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.313-322
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• 2019

The epididymal fat pad is a male gonadal adipocyte tissue and is histochemically separated into distal and proximal parts. The development of epididymal fat during postnatal period has not been examined in detail. A previous research showed that expression of adipocyte-associated molecules in the distal epididymal fat of mouse is generally increased as postnatally aged. In the present study, expressional patterns of same adipocyte-associated molecules in the mouse proximal epididymal fat at 2, 5, 8, and 12 months of age were studied by quantitative real-time PCR analysis and were compared with those in the distal epididymal fat. The expressional levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (Pparg), lipoprotein lipase (Lpl), and fatty acid synthase (Fasn) at 5 months of age were significantly lower than those at 2 months of age, while transcript level of leptin (Lep) at 5 months was higher than that at 2 months of age. The transcript levels of all molecules at 8 months of age were significantly increased, compared with those at 2 and 5 months of age. At 12 months of age, expression of delta like non-canonical Notch ligand 1 (Dlk1) was further significantly increased, while there was no change on the transcript level of Pparg and significant decreases of Fabp4, Retn, Lpl, Lep, Fasn, and adiponectin (Adipoq) transcript levels. The current findings show that expressional patterns of molecules associated with adipocyte in the proximal epididymal fat is somewhat different with those of the distal epididymal fat, suggesting the existence of regional variance in the epididymal fat.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.191-201
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• 2015

We evaluated the inhibitory effect of Pueraria lobata root ethanol extract (PLREE) on lipid accumulation during 3T3-L1 differentiation to adipocytes by measuring the intracellular expression of adipogenic, lipogenic, and lipolytic markers and lipid accumulation. The total polyphenol and flavonoid content of PLREE were 47 and 29 mg/g, respectively. The electron donating capacity of PLREE at $1,000{\mu}g/mL$ was 48.8%. Treatment of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes with 100, 250, or $500{\mu}g/mL$ PLREE for 8 days dose-dependently promoted the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells. In contrast, the lipid content of PLREE-treated cells was significantly reduced by 7.8% (p < 0.05), 35.6% (p < 0.001), and 42.2% (p < 0.001) following treatment with 100, 250, and $500{\mu}g/mL$ PLREE, respectively, as compared to differentiated control cells. PLREE upregulated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ mRNA and protein, and sterol regulator element-binding protein-1c mRNA levels, but did not affect CCAAT/enhancer binding-protein ${\beta}$ and ${\alpha}$ mRNA levels. PLREE also downregulated acetyl-CoA carboxylase mRNA and protein, fatty acid synthase (FAS) protein, and leptin mRNA levels, but did not affect FAS mRNA expression. PLREE upregulated adipose triglyceride lipase mRNA and protein expression, and hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) protein expression, but did not affect HSL mRNA expression. In conclusion, we found that PLREE enhanced adipogenesis, but reduced lipogenesis, resulting in decreased lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.1-12
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• 2020

Objectives : Phyllostachys pubescens and Scutellaria baicalensis are considered to be effective in promoting blood circulation in traditional medicine. In this study, we examined whether a mixture of P. pubescens leaves and S. baicalensis root (BS21) had any anti-obesity, anti-hyperlipidemia, or anti-hyperuricemia effects and the possible mechanisms of action. Methods : We examined the effects of BS21 in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. Mice were fed HFD with BS21 (75, 150, or 300 mg/kg) or Garcinia cambogia extracts (245 mg/kg) as a positive control for 8 weeks. At the end of 8 weeks, body weight, liver and adipose weight, adipocyte size, plasma lipid profiles, adipokine and uric acid levels, and adipose tissue expression levels in obesity and uric acid production-related genes were examined. Results : BS21 decreased body weight gain, white adipose tissue, liver weight, adipocyte size, and liver triglyceride accumulation. It also reduced levels of plasma glucose, triglycerides, non-esterified fatty acids, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, alanine transaminase, leptin, and uric acid. In contrast, BS21 increased adiponectin levels. Furthermore, BS21 decreased the expression levels of adipogenesis-related genes, such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c, and fatty acid synthase, as well as xanthine oxidoreductase, which is involved in uric acid production. Conclusions : These results suggest that BS21 may exert anti-obesity, anti-hyperlipidemia, and anti-hyperuricemia effects in HFD-induced obese mice by regulating the expression of xanthine oxidoreductase and adipogenesis-related genes.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.197-208
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• 2005

Although little information is available on the underlying mechanisms, various genetic factors have been associated with tissue-specific responses to radiation. In the present study, we explored the possibility whether organ specific gene expression is associated with radiosensitivity using samples from brain, lung and spleen. We examined intrinsic expression pattern of 23 genes in the organs by semi-quantitative RT-PCR method using both male and female C57BL/6 mice. Expression of p53 and p21, well known factors for governing sensitivity to radiation or chemotherapeutic agents, was not different among the organ types. Both higher expression of sialyltransferase, delta7-sterol reductase, leptin receptor splice variant form 12.1, and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lower expression of alphaB crystalline were specific for spleen tissue. Expression level of glutathione peroxidase and APO-1 cell surface antigen gene in lung tissue was high, while that of Na, K-ATPase alpha-subunit, Cu/ZnSOD, and cyclin G was low. Brain, radioresistant organ, showed higher expressions of Na, K-ATPase-subunit, cyclin G, and nucleolar protein hNop56 and lower expression of delta7-sterol reductase. The result revealed a potential correlation between gene expression patterns and organ sensitivity, and Identified genes which might be responsible for organ sensitivity.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2020

Objectives: Artemisinin and its derivatives extracted from Artemisia annua, a Chinese herbal medicine, have variable biological effects due to structural differences. Up to date, the anti-obesity effect of dihydroartemisinin (DHA), a derivative of artemisinin, is unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-adipogenic and lipolytic effects of DHA on 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Methods: Oil Red O staining and AdipoRed assay were used to measure lipid accumulation and triglyceride (TG) content in 3T3-L1 cells, respectively. Cell count analysis was used to determine the cytotoxicity of 3T3-L1 cells. Western blot and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analyses were used to analyze the expression of protein and mRNA in 3T3-L1 cells, respectively. Results: DHA at 5 μM markedly inhibited lipid accumulation and reduced TG content in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells with no cytotoxicity. Furthermore, DHA at 5 μM inhibited the expression of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-α (C/EBP-α), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and perilipin A as well as the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT-3) in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells. Moreover, while DHA at 5 μM had no effect on the mRNA expression of adiponectin, it strongly suppressed that of leptin in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells. However, DHA at 5 μM had no lipolytic effect on differentiated 3T3-L1 cells, as assessed by no enhancement of glycerol release. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that DHA at 5 μM has a strong anti-adipogenic effect on differentiating 3T3-L1 cells through the reduced expression and phosphorylation of C/EBP-α, PPAR-γ, FAS, perilipin A, and STAT-3.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.367-374
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• 2017

Background: An imbalance in energy intake and expenditure can cause obesity, which is a major risk factor for chronic diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, cancers and hyperlipidemia. Methods and Results: In this study, we evaluated the anti-obesity effects of a water extract from the young leaves of barley sprout (BS) in 3T3-L1 cells and in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice (HF). Lipid accumulation measurement indicates that BS markedly inhibited adipogenesis by reducing lipid droplet production in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of adipogenic transcription factors peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-${\gamma}$ and fatty acid synthetase, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-${\alpha}$ and fatty acid binding protein 4 in 3T3-L1 cells was significantly inhibited by BS treatment. In an in vivo test, the BS-administered group of HFD-induced mice showed less body weight gain, and lower liver and epididymal white adipose tissue weights. The BS-treated mice showed decreased serum levels of leptin and lipids compared to untreated HFD mice and the levels of adiponectin and the HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio increased. These results indicate that BS inhibits body fat accumulation by reducing the mRNA expression of lipogenesis transcription factors and increasing serum adipokine concentration in in vitro and in vivo tests. Conclusions: BS reduced high fat diet-induced weight gain and had a positive effect on dyslipidemia.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.213-221
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• 2019

The epididymal fat of mouse is a part of visceral fat deposit and is divided into the distal or proximal part based on its histochemical characteristics. Even though the formation of the epididymal fat pad begins before the birth, a detailed adipogenic procedure of the epididymal fat has not been revealed. The epididymal fat pad becomes enlarged and expended with age, and expressional changes of numerous genes are associated with the maturation of fat tissues. In the present research, expressional patterns of adipose tissue-related genes in the distal epididymal fat of mouse at 2, 5, 8, and 12 months of postnatal age were determined by a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. The lowest transcript levels of fatty acid binding protein 4 (Fabp4), lipoprotein lipase (Lpl), delta like non-canonical Notch ligand 1 (Dlk1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (Pparg), leptin (Lep), adiponectin (Adipoq), and resistin (Retn) were detected at 2 months of age, except fatty acid synthase (Fasn) showing the lowest level at 5 months of age. Even though expression of Lep and Fabp4 were gradually increased until 12 months of age, significant increases of Pparg and Adipoq transcript levels were continued until 8 months of age. The transcript levels of Lpl, Rent, Dlk1, and Fasn were significantly increased at 8 months of age, compared with those at 2 months of age. The current findings suggest that the expansion of the distal epididymal fat of mouse during postnatal period would be companied with differential expression of various adipocyte-associated molecules.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.109-121
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• 2020

Objectives: Tanshinone I is a bioactive constituent in Salvia miltiorrhiza. At present, the anti-obesity effect and mechanism of tanshinone I are not fully understood. Here we investigated the effect of tanshinone I on lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and zebrafish. Methods: Lipid accumulation and triglyceride (TG) content in 3T3-L1 cells were determined by Oil Red O staining and AdipoRed assay, respectively. The expression and phosphorylation levels of adipogenic/lipogenic proteins in 3T3-L1 cells were evaluated by Western blotting. The messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of adipogenic/lipogenic markers and leptin in 3T3-L1 cells were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Lipid accumulation in zebrafish was assessed by LipidGreen2 staining. Results: Tanshinone I at 5 μM largely blocked lipid accumulation and reduced TG content in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells. Furthermore, tanshinone I decreased the expression of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-α (C/EBP-α), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ), fatty acid synthase (FAS), acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC), and perilipin A but also the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT-3) in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells. In addition, tanshinone I increased the phosphorylation of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) while decreased the intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content with no change in the phosphorylation and expression of liver kinase-B1 in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells. Importantly, tanshinone I also reduced the extent of lipid deposit formation in developing zebrafish. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that tanshinone I has strong anti-adipogenic effects on 3T3-L1 cells and reduces adiposity in zebrafish, and these anti-adipogenic effect in 3T3-L1 cells are mediated through control of C/EBP-α, PPAR-γ, STAT-3, FAS, ACC, perilipin A, and AMPK.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.62 no.6
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• pp.854-863
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• 2020

This study was aimed to investigate the inhibitory effects of Porphyra dentata (P. dentata) extract on the adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 cells and evaluate its anti-obesity effect. The proliferation of 3T3-L1 cells and differentiation of adipocytes under treatment of P. dentata extract was examined by measuring the cell viability using alamarBlue assay and lipid droplets by Oil Red O staining. Results showed that P. dentata extract has no cytotoxicity effect and lipid droplets formation decreased in a concentration-dependent manner in 3T3-L1 cells. It has been confirmed that transcription factors affecting lipid accumulation and anti-adipogenic effects during cell differentiation are linked to P. dentata extract. We observed that P. dentata shows lowering the mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ2 (PPARγ2), CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα) that adipogenesis-associated key transcription factors and inhibiting adipogenesis in the early stages of differentiation. Treating the cells with P. dentata did not only suppressed PPARγ2 and C/EBPα but also significantly decreased the mRNA expression of adiponectin, Leptin, fatty acid synthase, adipocyte protein 2, and Acetyl-coA carboxylase 1. Overall, the P. dentata extract demonstrated inhibitory property in adipogenesis, which has a potential effect in anti-obesity in 3T3-L1 cells.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2022

This investigation aimed to assess the appetite response changes of olive flounder to starving and re-feeding conditions. Three different feeding groups (2 weeks feeding, fed; 2 weeks starving, starved; and 1 week starving and 1 week feeding, re-fed) were established to examine the changes in appetite-related genes for each group. The weight gain of the fish was highest for the fed group and lowest for the starving group. Based on the daily feed intake (DFI) and cumulative feed intake (CFI), overall food intake was found to increase in the re-fed group more than in the fed group from week 1 to week 2 of the experiment. Hypocretin neuropeptide precursor (HCRT) and galanin receptor 1 (GAL-R1) mRNA expression in the brain of olive flounder were decreased in the starved group. Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) was decreased in all experimental groups, except for the fed group. However, overall leptin concentrations in the plasma did not change across groups. Considering the differences between this study and previous studies on starving and feeding, various factors (except the production and expression mechanisms of appetite-related factors in response to starving) are likely acting on the appetite responses of the fish. In this study, a 1-week re-feeding period induced substantial effects on appetite response when compared to a 2-week feeding period. These findings show that even if re-feeding is performed after starving, the unbalance caused by the re-feeding can affect various physiological changes in fish by feed intake efficiency.