Adipocyte insensitivity to insulin in growth hormone-transgenic mice

Growth hormone (GH) has an inhibitory effect on adipogenesis, and its effect is associated with insulin action in obesity. In this study, the relationship between GH effect on insulin sensitivity and adipocyte differentiation in vivo was investigated. Transgenic (TG) female mice expressing porcine GH had reduced body weights and weights of retroperitoneal and parametrial fat depots. Insulin treatment increased PPAR gamma and GLUT4 expression in adipose tissue of WT mice but had no effect in TG mice. Content of transcription factors, PPAR gamma and C/EBP alpha and beta, was higher in adipose tissue of WT mice, and for C/EBP alpha and PPAR gamma, the difference occurred primarily in 24-, compared to 12-week-old, mice. Expression of preadipocyte factor-1 was higher in adipose tissue of TG mice, and expression of TNF-alpha and leptin was reduced in adipose tissue of 24-week-old TG mice. Our results suggest that increased expression of GH reduces adipogenesis by inducing adipocyte resistance to the adipogenic effect of insulin. (C) 2001 Academic Press.