Departament de Biologia Fonamental i Ciències de la Salut, Laboratori de Biologia Molecular, Nutrició i Biotecnologia, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Palma de Mallorca, Spain

Correspondence to: A Palou, Department de Biologia Fonamental i Ciències de la Salut, Laboratori de Biologia Molecular, Nutrició i Biotecnologia, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Ctra Valldemosa km 7.5, Palma de Mallorca 07071, Spain. dbfapoD@ps.uib.es

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of chronic treatment with CGP-12177 a ₃-adrenergic receptor (AR) agonist with ₂/₁-AR antagonist action, on the expression of the leptin gene and of genes coding for uncoupling proteins (ucp1, ucp2 and ucp3) in brown and white adipose tissues.

DESIGN: NMRI mice received a daily subcutaneous injection of CGP-12177 at a dose of 0.05, 0.2, 0.5 or 1 mg/kg for 15 days. The specific levels of the mRNAs of interest were analysed in interscapular brown adipose tissue (BAT) and in two white adipose tissue (WAT) depots, inguinal (IWAT) and epididymal (EWAT).

RESULTS: No changes in food intake or body weight were detected at any dose of CGP-12177. In the two WAT depots, the treatment led to enhanced expression of ucp1 and ucp3, but not of ucp2. In BAT, low doses (0.05 and 0.2 mg/kg) led to a decreased expression of the three ucp genes, whereas a slight stimulatory effect on the three ucp genes was elicited with a high dose (1 mg/kg). Treated animals displayed increased expression of leptin in BAT and, to a lesser extent, in IWAT, but not in EWAT.

CONCLUSION: The results reveal that simultaneous stimulation of the expression of certain ucp genes and the leptin gene can be achieved, and suggest that adrenergic regulation of the leptin gene and of genes of the ucp family in adipose tissues is the result of complex interactions between the different -AR pathways.

International Journal of Obesity (2000)24, 423-428

UCP; leptin; CGP-12177; -adrenergic regulation; adipose tissue