Association of resistin with visceral fat and muscle insulin resistance

Maturing Sprague-Dawley (S-D) rats develop obesity and skeletal muscle insulin resistance. To investigate the relationship between fat mass and insulin responses, we performed surgical removal of the epididymal and retroperitoneal depots of visceral adipose tissue (VF) or sham surgery (SHAM) in male rats aged 4 months. At sacrifice, 30 days later, the mass of visceral fat was 48% lower (p < 0.05) in VF− compared to SHAM, while subcutaneous fat was essentially unchanged. VF− animals displayed increased insulin responses in isolated strips of skeletal muscle. Insulin-stimulated glucose transport was increased 28% in soleus muscle (p < 0.05), with a trend toward a 31% increase in extensor digitorum longus muscle (p = 0.058). Glucose tolerance was not significantly affected by surgical fat removal. In VF− animals, serum resistin was reduced 26% (p < 0.05) and serum adiponectin was reduced 30% (p < 0.05), with trends for reductions in IL-4 (58% reduction, p = 0.084) and IL-6 (56% reduction, p = 0.123). TNF-α, leptin and free fatty acids (NEFAs) were unchanged. We conclude that in maturing S-D rats, increased visceral adiposity leads to an increase in systemic release in resistin and possibly interleukins. Elevation of circulating cytokines may play a role in the development of muscle insulin resistance.