PROSTAGLANDIN-F2-ALPHA INHIBITS THE DIFFERENTIATION OF ADIPOCYTE PRECURSORS IN PRIMARY CULTURE

Influence of arachidonate metabolite pathway on adipose differentiation was investigated using primary culture of adipocyte precursors in defined medium. Treatment of the cells with cyclooxygenase inhibitors stimulates adipose differentiation by at least 2-fold. Among the various arachidonate metabolites tested, only prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) was found to inhibit the differentiation of adipocyte precursors in a dose dependent fashion. Other eicosanoids tested did not have any effect. A 50% inhibition of adipose differentiation was observed with a dose of PGF2α of 3×10-9M to 7×10-9M according to the strain of rats used. Maximal inhibition occurred at PGF2α concentrations equal or higher than 10-8M. PGF2α inhibited not only the expression of late markers of adipose differentiation such as G3PDH and triglycerides accumulation but also the mRNA expression of early markers of adipose differentiation such as clone 154, lipoprotein lipase and ap2 gene. These results indicate that PGF2α represents a physiological negative modulator of adipose differentiation. © 1992.