Estradiol-17 beta effects on lipid metabolism of adipose tissue in nutritionally induced lean and obese ovariectomized ewes.

Nutritionally manipulated lean (68 kg) and obese (87 kg) ovariectomized ewes were administered estradiol-17 beta (E2) or sham implants. Ewes individually had ad libitum access to corn silage. Rates of de novo lipogenesis, palmitate esterification, and glycerol and fatty acid release were determined with slices of subcutaneous adipose tissue at 0, 5, and 30 d after implantation. Condition and E2 interacted over time (linear, P less than .12; quadratic, P less than .05) to affect intake. Lean ewes implanted with E2 decreased intake initially after implantation, whereas obese ewes implanted with E2 decreased intake later after implantation. The linear effect of time x condition x E2 interacted (P less than .02) for lipogenesis. Lipogenesis was inhibited in both the lean and obese ewes implanted with E2. Lean compared with obese ewes without E2 had increased lipogenesis at a faster rate over time. Esterification increased (linear, P less than .01) in the lean ewes and decreased (quadratic, P less than .01) in the obese ewes over time. A time x E2 interaction occurred for esterification (P less than .02). Glycerol and fatty acid release were variable over time within condition and E2. A 48-h adipose tissue culture determined the effect of E2 on lipid metabolism. Estradiol-17 beta decreased (P less than .05) lipogenesis, decreased (P less than .08) esterification, and maintained fatty acid and glycerol release. Data in vivo and in culture indicated that E2 acted to decrease de novo lipogenesis and palmitate esterification and had little or no effect on lipolysis.