Site specific changes of redox metabolism in adipose tissue of obese Zucker rats

Adipose tissues are differently involved in lipid metabolism and obesity according to their type and location. Increasing reports stress on the impact of redox metabolism on obesity and metabolic syndrome. The aim of this work is to investigate the site-specific redox metabolism in three different adipose tissues and its changes occurring in obesity. We analysed enzymatic and non-enzymatic parameters, and focused on the reduced/oxidized glutathione and coenzyme Q couples. In lean compared with obese non-diabetic Zucker rats, interscapular brown fat seems well protected against oxidative stress and epididymal adipose tissue shows a more reduced glutathione redox state, associated with a higher susceptibility to lipophilic oxidative stress than inguinal adipose tissue. Epididymal adipose tissue redox metabolism significantly differs from inguinal one by its limited redox metabolism adaptation. Our results demonstrate site-specific managements of reactive oxygen species metabolism in obese Zucker rats. These results are not consistent with the classic deciphering of inflammatory situation and produce a new conception of the redox parameters implication in the development of the metabolic syndrome. (c) 2006 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.