肌间脂肪沉积能力相关基因在前脂肪细胞分化前后的差异表达

研究表明,HBA、HBB、MB、HSPB1、MSRA、TCAP、TXN、PSMA1、GSTM1、COX6B1、VDAC1等基因在具有不同脂肪沉积程度的牛肉中存在差异表达,并对肌肉中脂肪的沉积情况具有潜在的影响。本研究以牛前体脂肪细胞为研究对象,诱导其分化为成熟脂肪细胞,通过实时荧光定量PCR检测上述基因在前体脂肪细胞分化前后的表达情况,通过油红O检测脂类沉积情况。结果表明,PSMA1、HBB、COX6B1、TCAP、MB、HBA、TXN、GSTM1、MSRA、HSPB1在前体脂肪细胞分化后表达量上升,而VDAC1表达量下降,前体脂肪细胞分化后脂质沉积明显加大,说明这些基因可能在调节前体脂肪细胞分化、脂质沉积中具有潜在作用。     

Optimization of in vitro conditions for bovine subcutaneous and intramuscular preadipocyte differentiation

The objective of these experiments was to develop an in vitro cell culture system for differentiation of bovine preadipocytes, which will permit examination of differences in differentiation between intramuscular (i.m.) and subcutaneous (s.c.) bovine preadipocytes. Stromal-vascular cells from bovine i.m. and s.c. adipose depots were isolated and cultured. Clonally derived s.c. preadipocytes were used to determine the ability of insulin, bovine serum lipids, octanoate, acetic acid, dexamethasone (DEX), and troglitazone (TRO) to elicit differentiation of these cells when added to serum-free medium. Addition of 10 and 20 microL/mL of a commercially available serum lipids supplement to low-glucose Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium containing 280 nM insulin increased glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity (P < 0.01). Inclusion of 1.25 to 10 microM TRO to medium containing 280 nM insulin and 20 microL/ mL serum lipids supplement also increased GPDH activity (P < 0.001) compared with 0 microM TRO. The combination of 280 nM insulin, 1 mM octanoate, and 10 mM acetic acid, with 48 h exposure to 0.25 microM DEX caused morphological differentiation in a small number of cells but did not stimulate GPDH activity (P = 0.99). When used together, 280 nM insulin, 20 microL/mL of serum lipids supplement, 40 microM TRO, and 0.25 microM DEX stimulated differentiation compared with the aforementioned treatment (P < 0.001). Omission of TRO or insulin from this medium reduced GPDH activity by 68% (P < 0.001), whereas removal of DEX tended to reduce GPDH activity (P = 0.06). Preadipocytes from s.c. (n = 3) and i.m. (n = 2) adipose tissues of 3 steers were used to determine the effects of TRO on differentiation using the established conditions. Forty to sixty microM TRO enhanced differentiation compared with 0 microM TRO (P < 0.02) in both depots. No depot differences in response to TRO were detected (P = 0.32). These data demonstrate that bovine preadipocytes are capable of differentiation in response to combinations of insulin, serum lipids, DEX, and TRO. Although TRO enhanced differentiation of bovine preadipocytes, no differential effects of TRO on the differentiation of s.c. and i.m. cells were detected.     

Expression of leptin mRNA and CCAAT-enhancer binding proteins in response to insulin deprivation during preadipocyte differentiation in primary cultures of porcine stromal-vascular cells

The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between CCAAT-enhancer binding proteins (C/EBPs) and leptin gene expression in response to insulin deprivation in preadipocytes and adipocytes. Adipose tissue from 7 d-old pigs was digested enzymatically and stromal-vascular (S-V) cells were seeded and plated for 3 d in fetal bovine serum (FBS) with dexamethasone (DEX) followed by 6 d (Days 3–9) in serum-free medium with insulin (850 nM or 10 nM), transferrin, and selenium. During FBS+DEX treatment (Days 0–3) a large number of preadipocytes develop with no lipid accretion. In contrast, preadipocyte number does not change with lipid accretion during insulin treatment (Days 3–9). Total RNA and cells were harvested from S-V cultures after periods with and without insulin after FBS+DEX. Northern-blotting and Western blot analysis were used to study leptin mRNA and C/EBP protein expression in cultures, respectively. Insulin deprivation from Days 3–4 reduced leptin mRNA and C/EBP- protein expression. Treatment with 850 nM or 10 nM insulin from Days 3–9 induced leptin mRNA and C/EBP- expression at a similar level. In cultures treated with 10 nM insulin from Days 3–7, leptin and C/EBP- expression were reduced markedly by insulin deprivation from Days 7–9, but were restored by insulin treatment for 6 hr before harvesting. The restoration of leptin expression by insulin was blocked by cycloheximide treatment. However, C/EBP-β protein levels did not change regardless of insulin deprivation. Insulin deprivation from Days 7–9 in cultures treated with 850 nM insulin from Days 3–7 did not influence C/EBP- or leptin mRNA expression, whereas C/EBP- and leptin expression were reduced after treating these cultures with 1.5 uM okadaic acid for 45 min before harvesting on Day 9. However, cycloheximide treatment for 6 hr before harvesting did not reduce leptin mRNA expression. These results suggest that 1) leptin expression is positively correlated with C/EBP- expression, and 2) the maintenance of leptin expression after insulin deprivation in 850 nM insulin-treated cultures on Day 9 may be associated with the presence of C/EBP- expression and/or activation.     

MAT2A/2B promote porcine intramuscular preadipocyte proliferation through ERK signaling pathway

Intramuscular fat (IMF) content has been identified as a crucial factor of porcine meat quality. MAT2A and MAT2B coordinately catalyzes the synthesis of the major biological methyl donor S‐adenosylmethionine (SAMe). However, the regulatory effect of MAT2A and MAT2B on porcine intramuscular preadipocyte proliferation has not been clarified. In this study, we investigated the effect of MAT2A and MAT2B and its potential mechanism during porcine intramuscular proliferation. We demonstrated that overexpression of MAT2A and MAT2B promoted the cell cycle progression of porcine preadipocyte by flow cytometry and EdU‐labeling assay, as well as promoted the expression of cell cycle marker genes including Cyclin B, Cyclin D, and Cyclin‐dependent kinase 4, but reduced the expression of cell cycle inhibitor P27. Consistently, knockdown of MAT2A and MAT2B inhibited cell cycle progression and downregulated the mRNA and protein levels of the above genes. Furthermore, overexpression of MAT2A and MAT2B activated the phosphorylation of ERK1/2. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of U0126 (a specific ERK1/2 inhibitor) on the ERK1/2 activities was partially recovered by overexpression of MAT2A and MAT2B in porcine intramuscular preadipocytes. Taken together, our findings suggested that MAT2A and MAT2B promote porcine preadipocyte proliferation by ERK1/2 signaling pathway.     

Proliferating bovine intramuscular preadipocyte cells synthesize leptin

Leptin is thought to be not only a satiety factor but also a stimulator of angiogenesis. We examined leptin, PPARγ2, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in bovine intramuscular preadipocyte (BIP) cells during proliferation. The cells were seeded at 0.85 × 10⁴ cells/cm² and collected every day until the fifth day after passage. Leptin mRNA was present in the cells between days 2 and 4, as indicated by RT-PCR analysis. Western blot analysis showed a band for leptin at approximately 16 kDa on all of the days during growth, and the cytoplasmic concentration of leptin was highest on day 2 and decreased gradually thereafter. A PPARγ2 band at approximately 54 kDa was also observed on all days. The concentration was highest on day 2 and decreased thereafter, which is similar to the expression pattern of leptin. In constant, the expression level of VEGF protein did not change while in culture. We have demonstrated that BIP cells can synthesize both leptin and PPARγ2, with maximal synthesis occurring during maximal proliferation. Given the role of leptin in angiogenesis, we speculate that leptin is involved in the neovascularization of adipose tissue, because new organization of adipose tissue requires the growth of new blood vessels.     

小窝蛋白-1在猪前体脂肪细胞分化中的作用及其机理

以体外培养1日龄猪皮下前体脂肪细胞为研究对象,通过脂质体LipofectamineTM2000介导小窝蛋白-1（Caveolin-1,CAV1）过表达载体pEGFP-N1-CAV1及CAV1的干扰片段siRNA-CAV1分别转染猪皮下前体脂肪细胞,采用RT-PCR定量分析转染后24、48、72、96h的CAV1mRNA表达量以及转染后72h脂肪细胞分化相关基因的mRNA表达量;其后又进行了CAV1过表达或干扰且诱导分化后甘油三脂含量以及脂肪细胞分化相关基因的mRNA表达量测定。结果显示,过表达CAV1基因上调前体脂肪细胞分化相关基因PPARγ、C/EBPβ、AP2、GPDH的表达量,干扰CAV1基因下调C/EBPβ、PPARγ、AP2、LPL、VLDLR的表达量;诱导分化后干扰组C/EBPβ、LPL、VLDLR的表达量仍显著降低,而甘油三脂含量检测结果说明过表达CAV1基因能促进脂肪细胞分化,提示CAV1可能通过C/EBPβ、LPL、VLDLR等基因影响猪前体脂肪细胞分化。     

Myostatin inhibits differentiation of bovine preadipocyte

We investigated the effect of myostatin on the differentiation of bovine preadipocyte. Stromal-vascular cells containing preadipocytes were prepared from perirenal adipose tissue of approximately 30-month-old Japanese Black steers. After confluence, the differentiation was induced by 1-methyl-3-isobutyl-xanthine, dexamethasone, insulin, and troglitasone for 2 days, and then subsequently cultured for 6 days. The cells were treated with myostatin during the induction of differentiation (the early phase of differentiation) or throughout the differentiation period. We measured the terminal differentiation markers such as glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity, lipid accumulation, and the expression of adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein mRNA at the end of cultures. The treatment with myostatin throughout the differentiation period severely suppressed the induction of all differentiation markers. The treatment with myostatin in the early phase of differentiation also suppressed the induction of terminal differentiation markers but three-fold higher dose of myostatin was required for the suppression compared with its treatment throughout the differentiation period. Myostatin treatment reduced the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma mRNA and interfered with the induction of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) alpha mRNA. We also observed that follistatin stimulates preadipocyte differentiation in the presence of myostatin. These results suggest that myostatin inhibits bovine preadiopocyte differentiation through suppressing PPARgamma and C/EBPalpha mRNA expressions and that follistatin counteracts the suppressive effect of myostatin.     

ADIPOQ shRNA在猪前体脂肪细胞中转染体系的优化

根据Genbank提供的猪ADIPOQ基因序列及shRNA设计原则,化学合成4段编码短发夹RNA的寡核苷酸序列,将其定向克隆到pGPU6/GFP/Neo中U6启动子的下游,转化DH5α菌株,双酶切鉴定正确后进行测序,将构建好的真核表达载体转染前体脂肪细胞,并对条件进行优化.限制性内切酶PstⅠ和BamHⅠ酶切显示设计合成的shRNA编码序列被成功插入pGPU6/GFP/Neo质粒中,测序结果显示插入片断与设计序列完全一致,证明重组质粒构建成功,转入到前体脂肪细胞中,可以看见绿色荧光蛋白表达.当质粒浓度0.6μg,脂质体2000是1.2μL,两者质量/体积比为1∶2时,此时转染效率最高,达到53.9％.成功构建了猪ADIPOQ基因的shRNA真核表达载体,并成功将该质粒转入猪的前体脂肪细胞中去,还对质粒与脂质体2000用量比条件进行了优化,此举能为进一步研究ADI-POQ在猪前体脂肪细胞中的功能奠定了良好的基础.     

Effects of fatty acid transport protein 1 on proliferation and differentiation of porcine intramuscular preadipocytes

Fatty acid transport protein 1 (FATP1) plays an important role in the fatty acid transmembrane transport and fat deposition. However, its role in porcine intramuscular preadipocytes proliferation and differentiation remain poorly understood. Here, we examined the effects of pFATP1 on porcine intramuscular preadipocytes proliferation and differentiation. Overexpression of pFATP1 in porcine intramuscular preadipocytes significantly promoted the proliferation of porcine intramuscular preadipocytes, and also significantly upregulated the expressions of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ, CCAAT enhancer binding protein α, lipoprotein lipase, fatty acid synthetase and perilipin 1. Moreover, overexpression of pFATP1 in porcine intramuscular preadipocytes significantly increased fat accumulation and downregulated β‐catenin protein expression. Overall, our results indicated that pFATP1 played an important role in porcine intramuscular preadipocytes proliferation and differentiation, and it might promote adipogenesis in porcine intramuscular preadipocytes by repressing Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway.     

Expression of proopiomelanocortin, proenkephalin and prodynorphin genes in porcine luteal cells

The objective of the study was to examine the expression of the genes coding for proopiomelanocortin (POMC), proenkephalin (PENK) and prodynorphin (PDYN) in porcine luteal cells isolated from corpora lutea (CL) collected on days 3-6, 8-10 and 13-16 of the oestrous cycle. Total RNA was purified from non-incubated cells and from cells incubated for 48 h in the absence or presence of luteinising hormone (LH). The semi-quantitative RT-PCR technique, involving coamplification of the target and control cDNA (beta-actin or 18S rRNA), was used to examine gene expression. It was found that the genes coding for opioid precursors are expressed in both non-incubated and incubated porcine luteal cells representing the early, mid- and late luteal phase. In non-incubated cells, only POMC mRNA content changed during CL development, whereas the expression of PENK and PDYN genes remained relatively constant. Additionally, the treatment of cells with LH markedly affected the expression of POMC and PENK, but no influence on PDYN expression was observed. The present study indicates that porcine luteal cells may produce opioid peptides and that gene expression of their precursors (except for PDYN) may be modulated in these cells by LH. Moreover, the present results support the involvement of opioid peptides in local regulation within the CL of the pig.     

Expression of Toll-like receptors and downstream genes in lipopolysaccharide-induced porcine alveolar macrophages

The aim of the present study was to determine the age-related kinetic changes of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and downstream genes expression, and secretion of cytokine in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated porcine alveolar macrophages (AM). For this purpose, AMs were isolated from 5-day-old newborn piglets and 120-day-old young pigs. mRNA expression and cytokine measurement was determined by quantitative real-time PCR and ELISA, respectively. First, AMs were incubated for 24 h in the absence or presence of increasing concentrations of LPS. Results showed the up-regulation of TLRs 2, 4, 5 and 9 mRNA from all concentrations of LPS used, as compared to non-stimulated cells, and TLR4 was the highest expression in both ages (P<0.05). Furthermore, quantitative analysis demonstrated increased expression of mRNAs encoding TLRs 2, 4, 5 and 9, LBP, CD14, MD2, MyD88, IRAK4 and TRAF6 in both ages in a time-dependant manner (P<0.05). Overall, LPS inducible mRNA for TLR4, LBP, CD14 and MyD88 had higher expression in newborn piglets compared with those of young pigs (P<0.05). The level of cytokine protein IL6 and TNFα in supernatant fluid significantly varied with time of incubation and age of animals. Their concentration increased immediately at 1 h after LPS stimulation and remained significantly higher up to 48 h in both ages. Production of pro-inflammatory cytokine protein IL6 and TNFα in supernatant was significantly higher in young pigs than those of piglets. This study suggests that differential age-related changes in the expression of TLRs and downstream genes, and pro-inflammatory cytokine could contribute to a different age-related innate immune response during pulmonary infection. Further investigation is warranted to determine the precise effects of LPS on porcine AMs by means of a functional study across a wider age range.     

营养调控猪肌内脂肪的研究

<正>肌内脂肪(Intramuscular fat,IMF)是指蓄积于肌外膜、肌束膜以及肌内膜上的脂肪。肌内脂肪含量与猪肉的食用品质密切相关,可影响猪肉的嫩度、风味、肉色、系水力及大理石纹评分,是影响猪肉品质的重要因素。通常,猪肌肉含脂量控制在2.0%～3.5%范围比较理想,含量适中且分布均匀的大理石纹能使肉品味美多汁、     

BMP2对猪前体脂肪细胞差异表达miRNA1的影响

采用高通量测序技术构建经骨形态发生蛋白-2(BMP2)处理前后的猪前体脂肪细胞差异miRNA表达谱,以明确BMP2影响的功能性miRNA。结果显示:BMP2刺激猪前体脂肪细胞前后共有55个miRNAs存在较大的表达差异,包括30个上调表达的miRNAs和25个下调表达的miRNAs;实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)检测表明,高通量测序数据结果正确可靠;经miRnada和RNAhybrid这2个软件对差异表达的miRNAs进行靶基因预测及靶基因进行GO和KEGG Pathway分析,发现靶基因主要富集在Notch信号通路、胰岛素信号通路、甘油磷酯代谢、MAPK信号通路、半乳糖代谢、类固醇激素的生物合成等通路。结果表明:BMP2作为前体脂肪细胞分化重要调控因子,可能通过介导miRNA及其调控的某些关键基因的表达,从而影响前体脂肪细胞外基质与受体的结合、胰岛素利用、脂类和糖的合成与代谢等生物学过程,最终作用于前体脂肪细胞的分化和脂质沉积。     

Isolation of genes showing increased expression during bovine adipocyte differentiation

The adipocyte is important not only for the storage of excess energy as fat, but also for the secretion of homeostatic factors. Gene expression profiles during adipocyte differentiation have been reported previously for mouse 3T3‐L1 cells. However, the profiles of adipogenic gene expression in mice and cattle may be different because several metabolic pathways of the ruminant adipose tissue are different from those of non‐ruminants. The gene expression profile in a clonal bovine intramuscular preadipocyte cell line during adipogenesis was examined using the polymerase chain reaction‐subtraction method. Six hundred and twenty‐one clones, which were expressed at an early stage of differentiation, from the preadipocyte to adipocyte, were isolated and characterized. Further detailed studies were carried out for 86 selected genes using northern blotting. Ten genes were found to be highly expressed after differentiation of bovine intramuscular preadipocyte cells. In particular, the expression profiles of genes for stearoyl CoA desaturase and FK506 binding protein were quite different from the time course of differentiation of that seen in the 3T3‐L1 cells reported previously. In addition, these genes were assigned to bovine chromosomes using a bovine/hamster somatic cell hybrid panel and public database.     

Expression of cytokeratin 18 during pre- and post-natal porcine lung development

The expression pattern of the intermediate filament protein cytokeratin 18 (CK 18) is described during pre- and post-natal development of the porcine lung using a monoclonal antibody against human CK 18. Lungs from 16 foetuses in pseudoglandular, canalicular, saccular and alveolar stages of lung development and lungs from 12 pigs ranging in age from birth to 49 days after birth were studied by immunohistochemistry.In the early pseudoglandular stage of development (day 70 of gestation) all the columnar epithelial cells lining the tubular endbuds strongly expressed CK 18 predominantly in the apical cell compartment. A modest staining was found in the more cuboidal cells of the canalicular stage (day 80 of gestation) where the labelling occurred as a distinct positive rim at the apical cell membrane in most of the cells lining the canaliculi. In 96- and 100-day-old foetuses, parts of the gas exchanging area were formed as terminal sacs by extreme attenuation of the epithelium. In this stage, CK 18 was clearly detectable in the flat type I as well as in the cuboidal type II alveolar epithelial cells. A marked change of the CK 18 expression pattern occurred during formation of the alveoli by septal outgrowth and maturation of the epithelium in 105- and 111-day-old foetuses. Differentiated type I cells no longer expressed CK 18, whereas type II cells were still labelled. Moreover, a specific change in the subcellular distribution pattern from the luminal periphery in immature porcine type II cells to a cytoplasmic localization in differentiated type II cells could be observed. Our investigation additionally demonstrated that the epithelium of bronchi, bronchioli and terminal bronchioli expressed CK 18 in all pre- and post-natal developmental stages. From the 96 days of gestation onwards the epithelial cells of developing bronchial glands were also labelled. Our results clearly show that during porcine lung development profound changes in the cellular expression pattern of CK 18 occur and that CK 18 can be regarded as a selective marker for differentiated porcine alveolar type II cells from the 105th day of gestation onwards. We also assume that the intermediate filament CK 18 could be of significance in the maturation process of the type II alveolar cells.     

Growth factor messenger ribonucleic acid expression during differentiation of porcine embryonic myogenic cells

The growth factors, IGF-I and II, their binding proteins, IGFBP, and members of the transforming growth factor (TGF) superfamily (myostatin and TGFbeta1) are known to regulate proliferation and differentiation of myogenic cells. We hypothesized that changes in the relative expression of members of the IGF and TGFbeta systems play a significant role in regulating myogenesis in porcine embryonic myogenic cell (PEMC) cultures. Therefore, determining the expression patterns of these factors during PEMC myogenesis is important. Consequently, we used real-time PCR to explore the pattern of IGF-I; IGF-II; IGFBP-2, -3, and -5; IGF-type-I receptor; myogenin; myostatin; and TGFbeta1 mRNA expression during PEMC myogenesis. The progression of differentiation was assessed using creatine kinase activity and myogenin mRNA expression. As anticipated, creatine kinase activity was low in PEMC cultures at 48 h and increased 20-fold (P < 0.0001) between 48 h and its peak at 144 h. Similarly, myogenin mRNA was low at 48 h and increased approximately 5-fold (P < 0.0001) as differentiation progressed, peaking at 120 h and decreasing at 144 h. The patterns of IGF-I and IGFBP-2 mRNA expression were similar and were relatively lower in 48-h PEMC cultures, increasing approximately 5-fold (P < 0.0001) to their greatest levels at 120 h. In contrast, IGF-II and IGFBP-5 mRNA levels were relatively high at 48 h, peaking at 72 h, and steadily decreasing by 60 and 80%, respectively (P < 0.001), at 144 h. The level of IGF-type-I receptor mRNA was relatively high until 96 h of culture, after which it decreased 40% (P < 0.01), reaching a low at 144 h. Levels of IGFBP-3 mRNA were relatively high at 48 h, dropped approximately 40% to their lowest level at 72 h (P < 0.001), and then increased approximately 60% (P < 0.001) to their greatest levels at 144 h. Levels of TGFbeta1 mRNA decreased approximately 30% (P < 0.0001) between 48 and 96 h, then quickly rebounded to a peak at 120 h, and by 144 h had dropped to the levels seen at 72 h. Myostatin mRNA was at its greatest level at 48 h and declined rapidly between 72 and 96 h, finally decreasing by approximately 80% at 144 h (P < 0.0001). Our data demonstrate that these factors are differentially regulated during PEMC myogenesis and provide new information about their pattern of mRNA expression in cultured porcine muscle cells.     

The influence of dexamethasone and insulin on expression of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein isoforms during preadipocyte differentiation in porcine stromal-vascular cell cultures: evidence for very early expression of C/EBPalpha

Expression of CAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) isoforms was examined in primary cultures of adipose tissue stromal vascular (S-V) cells before and during preadipocyte differentiation. Immunocytochemistry showed that the proportions and numbers of C/EBPalpha-, C/EBPbeta-, and C/EBPdelta-reactive cells were maximized after seeding and plating from d 0 to 3 in fetal bovine serum (FBS). However, there were few preadipocytes (AD-3+) and fewer cells with lipid and the number of C/EBPalpha-reactive cells clearly exceeded the number of preadipocytes. Seeding and plating in dexamethasone (DEX) + FBS from d 0 to 3 markedly increased the proportions and numbers of preadipocytes and C/EBPalpha-reactive cells compared to seeding and plating in FBS, d 0 to 3. The number of C/EBPalpha- and C/EBPbeta-reactive cells and preadipocyte reactivity for C/EBPbeta decreased with insulin or DEX treatment, d 3 to 6, following FBS, d 0 to 3. However, insulin + DEX treatment, d 3 to 6, maintained the number of C/EBPalpha-reactive cells and either maintained or increased preadipocyte reactivity for C/EBPalpha and C/EBPbeta. DEX and DEX + insulin treatment induced recruitment of a similar number of preadipocytes, but preadipocytes were not reactive for C/EBPalpha and C/EBPbeta in DEX-treated cultures. The number of C/EBPdelta reactive cells did not change from d 3 to 6 and was not influenced by hormone treatment. After DEX + FBS, d 0 to 3, the high numbers of C/EBPalpha-reactive cells and preadipocytes were maintained by insulin treatment alone. Western blot analysis for C/EBPalpha confirmed the immunocytochemical results. Double staining demonstrated that expression of C/EBPalpha protein was maximized before or at the onset of lipid accretion, whereas expression of C/EBPbeta protein was correlated with lipid accretion. These results indicate that coupling or integration of preadipocyte recruitment with C/EBPalpha expression may be a critical step in glucocorticoid-induced adipogenesis.     

Acute and long-term lipogenic response to insulin and clenbuterol in bovine intramuscular and subcutaneous adipose tissues

The present study was conducted to determine whether insulin and clenbuterol affected either short-term (2-h) incubations or long-term (48-h) tissue cultures of i.m. and s.c. adipose tissue explants. Samples were taken from control steers and steers fed 7 mg.head-1.d-1 clenbuterol for 50 d, after which time the drug was withdrawn from the diet for 90 d prior to slaughter. Neither short-term incubations nor long-term explant cultures contained bovine serum albumin (BSA). Insulin (6.67 x 10(-9) M) had no effect (P greater than .05) on lipogenesis in s.c. and i.m. adipose tissue in 2-h tissue incubations of fresh adipose tissue. There was a substantial decrease in activity during the culture period, which was ameliorated somewhat in s.c. adipose tissue by the presence of insulin in the culture media. Clenbuterol exposure for 48 h in vitro decreased the production of lipids from acetate in both adipose tissue depots but had no effect in short-term adipose tissue incubations. Results from the present study confirm that omitting BSA from incubation media does not enhance the responsiveness of bovine s.c. adipose tissue or the less mature i.m. adipose tissue to insulin. Insulin may maintain greater cell viability in 48-h explant cultures.