Effect of some phytoestrogens on metabolism of rat adipocytes

The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the direct effect of genistein, daidzein and zearalenone on basal and hormone-induced lipogenesis and lipolysis in isolated rat adipocytes. In lipogenesis, daidzein and zearalenone were used at concentrations of 0.01, 0.1 and 1 mmol.L-1 and genistein at concentrations of 0.01, 0.3, 0.6 and 1 mmol.L-1. In lipolysis, concentrations of tested compounds were 0.01, 0.1 and 1 mmol.L-1. All tested compounds clearly inhibited basal and insulin (1 nmol.L-1) stimulated lipogenesis. Basal lipolysis was particularly enhanced by genistein and daidzein at its higher concentrations. The ability of zearalenone to potentiate of basal lipolysis was less marked. Epinephrine (1 mu mol.L-1)-stimulated lipolysis was inhibited by genistein at 1 mmol.L-1. At a concentration of 0.1 mmol.L-1 daidzein also augmented epinephrine-stimulated lipolysis and at its highest concentration exhibited an inhibitory effect, similar to genistein. Zearalenone reduced stimulated lipolysis, particularly at the highest concentration. (C) Inra/Elsevier, Paris.