Testosterone treatment improves metabolic syndrome-induced adipose tissue derangements

Abstract

We recently demonstrated that testosterone dosing ameliorated the metabolic profile and reduced visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced rabbit model of metabolic syndrome (MetS).We studied the effects of HFD and in vivo testosteronedosing on VAT function and the adipogenic capacity of rabbit preadipocytes isolated from VAT of regular diet (RD),HFD, and testosterone-treated HFD rabbits.VAT was studied by immunohistochemistry,western blot,andRT-PCR.Isolated rPADswere exposed to adipocyte differentiating mixture (DIM) to evaluate adipogenic potential. Adipocyte size was significantly increased in HFD VAT compared with RD,indicating adipocyte dysfunction, which was normalized by testosterone dosing. Accordingly,perilipin,an anti-lipolytic protein, was significantly increased in HFD VAT, when compared with other groups.HFD VAT was hypoxic,while testosterone dosing normalized VAT oxygenation.In VAT, androgen receptor expression was positively associated with mRNA expression of GLUT4 (SLC2A4) (insulin-regulated glucose transporter) and STAMP2 (STEAP4) (androgen-dependent gene required for insulin signaling). In testosterone-treated HFDVAT, STAMP2 mRNA was significantly increasedwhen compared with the other groups. Moreover, GLUT4 membrane translocationwas significantly reduced in HFD VAT,compared with RD, and increased by testosterone. In DIM-exposed preadipocytes from HFD,triglyceride accumulation, adipocyte-specific genes, insulin-stimulated triglyceride synthesis,glucose uptake, and GLUT4 membrane translocation werereduced compared with preadipocytes from RD and normalized by in vivo testosterone dosing.In conclusion, testosterone dosing in a MetS animal model positively affects VAT functions.This could reflect the ability of testosterone in restoring insulin sensitivity in VAT, thus counteracting metabolic alterations. © 2012 Society for Endocrinology.