Effects of exercise on adiponectin and adiponectin receptor levels in rats

Adiponectin reportedly reduces insulin-resistance. Exercise has also been shown to lessen insulin-resistance, though it is not known whether exercise increases levels of adiponectin and/or its receptors or whether its effects are dependent on exercise intensity and/or frequency. Catecholamine levels have been shown to increase during exercise and to fluctuate based on exercise intensity and duration. In light of this information, we examined the effects of exercise on catecholamine, adiponectin, and adiponectin receptor levels in rats. Our data showed that blood adiponectin levels increased by 150% in animals that exercised at a rate of 30 m/min for 60 min 2 days per week, but not 5 days, per week; no such increase was observed in rats that exercised at a rate of 25 m/min for 30 min. The effects of exercise on adiponectin receptor mRNA were variable, with adiponectin receptor 1 (AdipoR1) levels in muscle increasing up to 4 times while adiponectin receptor 2 (AdipoR2) levels in liver fell to below half in response to exercise at a rate of 25 m/min for 30 min 5 days per week. We also observed that urinary epinephrine levels and plasma lipids were elevated by exercise at a rate of 25 m/min for 30 min 2 days per week. Exercise frequency at a rate of 25 m/min for 30 min correlated with AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 mRNA expression in the muscle and liver, respectively (r = 0.640, p < 0.05 and r = − 0.808, p < 0.0005, respectively). Urinary epinephrine levels correlated with AdipoR2 mRNA expression in liver tissues (r = − 0.664, p < 0.05) in rats that exercised at a rate of 25 m/min for 30 min. Thus, exercise may regulate adiponectin receptor mRNA expression in tissues, which might cause increases in glucose uptake and fatty acid oxidation in the muscle. The effect of exercise on adiponectin levels depends on the specific conditions of the exercise.