Glucose intolerance after chronic stress is related with downregulated PPAR-γ in adipose tissue.
BACKGROUND
Chronic stress is associated with increased risk of glucose intolerance and cardiovascular diseases, albeit through undefined mechanisms. With the aim of gaining insights into the latter, this study examined the metabolic profile of young adult male rats that were exposed to chronic unpredictable stress.


METHODS
Young adult male rats were submitted to 4 weeks of chronic unpredictable stress and allowed to recover for 5 weeks. An extensive analysis including of morphologic, biochemical and molecular parameters was carried out both after chronic unpredictable stress and after recovery from stress.


RESULTS
After 28 days of chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) the animals submitted to this protocol displayed less weight gain than control animals. After 5 weeks of recovery the weight gain rebounded to similar values of controls. In addition, following CUS, fasting insulin levels were increased and were accompanied by signs of impaired glucose tolerance and elevated serum corticosteroid levels. This biochemical profile persisted into the post-stress recovery period, despite the restoration of baseline corticosteroid levels. The mRNA expression levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ and lipocalin-2 in white adipose tissue were, respectively, down- and up-regulated.


CONCLUSIONS
Reduction of PPAR-γ expression and generation of a pro-inflammatory environment by increased lipocalin-2 expression in white adipose tissue may contribute to stress-induced glucose intolerance.
['Pereira|Vitor H|VH|', 'Marques|Fernanda|F|', 'Lages|Vânia|V|', 'Pereira|Filipa G|FG|', 'Patchev|Alexandre|A|', 'Almeida|Osborne F X|OF|', 'Almeida-Palha|Joana|J|', 'Sousa|Nuno|N|', 'Cerqueira|João J|JJ|']
D000818:Animals D015415:Biomarkers D001786:Blood Glucose D002908:Chronic Disease D003345:Corticosterone D004195:Disease Models, Animal D015536:Down-Regulation D018149:Glucose Intolerance D018836:Inflammation Mediators D007328:Insulin D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat D000071068:Lipocalin-2 D008297:Male D047495:PPAR gamma D010641:Phenotype D017208:Rats, Wistar D015398:Signal Transduction D013315:Stress, Psychological D013997:Time Factors D015430:Weight Gain
Glucose intolerance Chronic unpredictable stress Lipocalin-2 White adipose tissue Metabolic syndrome PPAR