Sexual Dimorphic Effects of Exercise Training on Subcutaneous White Adipose Tissue of Mice.

Abstract

Obesity is estimated to affect more than 600 million people worldwide (1). The strong relationship between obesity and multiple diseases, including type 2 diabetes, has motivated ongoing research aimed at understanding the fundamental biology of adipose tissue. Adipocytes can be characterized as white, brown, or beige. White adipocytes are crucial for energy (triglyceride) storage (2). White adipocytes also release numerous signaling molecules (adipokines) that have endocrine, paracrine, and/or autocrine functions. Distinctive physiological purposes and metabolic features have been documented for visceral versus subcutaneous white adipose tissue (WAT) depots (3). The primary feature of brown adipocytes is their exceptional capacity for heat generation. Beige adipocytes, which are interspersed in WAT depots, also have substantial thermogenic capacity. However, brown and beige adipocytes arise from distinct lineages (4). A variety of interventions, including exposure to cold ambient temperature, β-adrenergic activation, and physical exercise, can stimulate the induction and activation of beige adipocytes. Unraveling the remarkable complexity and adaptive potential of adipose tissue continues to be a crucial, but challenging, task. Research performed 30–40 years ago revealed that in rats, chronically performed exercise can modify metabolic properties of WAT, including insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and the activity of mitochondrial enzymes (5,6). Nonetheless, it was remarkable when recent research …