[Relationship between visceral fat depot and adiponectin mRNA level in the adipose tissue of OLETF rats].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between visceral fat depot and adiponectin level in OLETF rats.

Methods: Twenty male OLETF rats and 10 male Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) rats were subjected to regular oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). The rats were sacrificed at the ages of 8, 32 and 40 weeks for measurements of the body weight, blood glucose, blood lipid level, blood insulin, and weight of the visceral fat.

Results: Compared with LETO rats, OLETF rats had significantly higher body weight and visceral fat with impaired glucose tolerance (P<0.05). OLETF rats also had higher blood insulin, TG, FFA and CHOL levels (P<0.05). The plasma adiponectin level was significantly lower in OLETF rats than in LETO rats at different ages (P<0.05). The adiponectin mRNA level in the adipose tissue of OLETF rats was comparable with that in LETO rats, but significantly decreased at 32 and 40 weeks of age (P<0.01).

Conclusion: Plasma adiponectin level is significantly correlated to insulin sensitivity and visceral fat depots in OLETF rats, but a lowered APN mRNA expression level is not the main reason for a decreased plasma adiponectin level in the early stage.