Effect of PPAR-δ agonist on the expression of visfatin, adiponectin, and resistin in rat adipose tissue and 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Rats fed a high-fat diet showed a greater increase in body weight than those fed a standard diet (P < 0.05), and treatment with L-165041 (10 mg/kg/day) significantly decreased weight gain (P < 0.05). The concentration of total cholesterol was lower, and HDL cholesterol was higher in L-165041-treated rats (P < 0.05). In the visceral adipose tissue of L-165041-treated rats, visfatin and adiponectin mRNA levels significantly increased compared to those of the untreated rats (P < 0.05). However, the expression of resistin decreased in the L-165041-treated rats. Furthermore, in cultured 3T3-L1 adipocytes, the level of visfatin and adiponectin mRNA was up-regulated in response to L-165041 treatment for nine days. By contrast, resistin mRNA levels were down-regulated by L-165041 treatment. The present study provides a novel evidence to suggest that the PPAR-δ agonist has regulatory effects on a variety of adipokines, and these effects might explain some of their metabolic function.