Influence of ovarian status and regional fat distribution on protein kinase C in rat fat cells.

Abstract

The effects of ovarian status on insulin- and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (TPA)-stimulated lipogenic responses, phorbol ester-specific binding to protein kinase C (PKC) and immunoblot-quantified beta- and epsilon-PKC isoform levels were compared in female rat fat cells from subcutaneous and deep intra-abdominal (parametrial) fat deposits. In control rats, the cytosolic PKC content per cell was 70% lower in subcutaneous than in parametrial adipocytes. In subcutaneous and parametrial fat cells, the cytosolic PKC contents were reduced by ovariectomy and restored to normal by the administration of ovarian hormones (oestradiol plus progesterone). However, the lipogenic response to TPA was unaltered by ovarian status in both fat deposits, contrasting with the insulin-stimulated lipogenic response. This response increased in parametrial fat cells after ovariectomy and returned to normal after ovarian hormone treatment whereas, in subcutaneous fat cells, the insulin response was either unaltered by ovariectomy or increased by the administration of ovarian hormones. This study shows important site-related differences in fat cell PKC content but also reveals a similar modulation of this PKC by ovarian status, regardless of the anatomical localization of the fat cells. The physiological significance of these findings is discussed.