Transplantation or removal of intra-abdominal adipose tissue prevents age-induced glucose insensitivity

Increases in intra-abdominal fat, a common feature associated with aging, is an established risk factor for insulin resistance, diabetes and the metabolic syndrome. To examine the direct contribution of intra-abdominal fat in the pathophysiology of insulin resistance we altered fat volume via removal or transplantation in a naturally occurring age-induced moderate model of obesity and insulin resistance. This was accomplished by bilateral removal of epididymal white adipose tissue (Lipx) or transplantation of donor fat into the intra-abdominal side of the peritoneal cavity of 28-week old rats. Control animals received sham surgery. Glucose tolerance was evaluated at baseline and 4 and 8 weeks post-surgery in all groups, and fasting insulin and leptin were additionally measured in 28-week old rats. In addition, fasted and fed triglyceride, cholesterol and fatty acid concentrations were measured. Before surgery 28-week old rats weighed more and were glucose intolerant compared with 8-week old controls. Both Lipx and transplantation significantly prevented age-induced decreases in glucose tolerance, with Lipx causing improvement at 4 weeks which declined by 8 weeks; and with a significant transplantation improvement at 8 weeks only. Lipx significantly increased insulin secretion 15 min after a bolus injection of 0.75 mg/kg dextrose at 4 and 8 weeks compared with controls, while transplantation caused a significant (∼ 220%) increase in fasted leptin level at 4 weeks only. Taken together, these data suggest that surgical removal or addition of intra-abdominal fat prevents age-induced insulin resistance by different mechanisms and is a suitable model to investigate naturally occurring obesity.