Time course of changes in in vitro lipolysis of intra-abdominal fat depots in relation to high-fat diet-induced hepatic steatosis in rats

The purpose of the present study was to determine the time course of changes in in vitro lipolysis and in perilipin content (Western blot) in the mesenteric and/or the retroperitoneal fat depots in relation to the development of hepatic steatosis in high-fat diet-fed rats. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were submitted to a high-fat diet (HF diet; 42 % as kJ) or a standard diet (SD diet) for 1, 2, 3 or 8 weeks. Fat accretion in the mesenteric and retroperitoneal tissues was higher (P < 0 center dot 01) in HF diet-fed than in SD diet-fed rats as soon as 1 week after the beginning of the diet. Liver triacylglycerol concentrations were significantly (P < 0 center dot 01) higher in HF diet-fed than in SD diet-fed rats throughout the experiment, the highest values being reached at week 2 of the diet. Basal and stimulated lipolysis (10(-4) to 10(-7) m-isoproterienol) in the mesenteric and retroperitoneal fat depots was not changed during the first 3 weeks, regardless of the diet. Lipolysis in the mesenteric adipose tissue in the basal and stimulated states was, however, higher (P < 0 center dot 01) in HF diet-fed than in SD diet-fed rats after 8 weeks of the diets. There were no significant (P > 0 center dot 05) effects of diet and time on perilipin content of mesenteric tissue. In spite of a rapid fat accretion, the present results do not provide any evidence of a rapid (3 weeks) increase in in vitro lipolysis in intra-abdominal fat depots upon the undertaking of an HF diet at a time where liver lipid infiltration is the most significant.