LAUSR

Abstract Adipose tissue has long been considered as an energy storage organ. Adipokines, produced by and secreted from adipose tissues, play an important role in regulating fat accumulation, energy balance, and glucose metabolism. Adiponectin receptors (AdipoR1 and AdipoR2) are expressed in various sheep tissues, including adipose tissue. However, the role of adiponectin receptor-mediated signalling has never been investigated in sheep adipose tissue. In this study, sheep preadipocytes were ultimately differentiated into typical adipocytes in vitro 7 days after differentiation. The expression levels of LPL (lipoprotein lipase), HSL (Hormone-sensitive lipase), FAS (fatty acid synthase), and PPARα/PPARγ (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha/gamma) were significantly changed in the sheep preadipocytes during differentiation for 7 days. After induction of preadipocyte differentiation, lipid accumulation increased significantly in the transfected preadipocytes of AdipoR1-siRNA1 but decreased in the AdipoR1-overexpression (AdipoR1-GFP) preadipocytes. In addition, the expression of HSL and PPARγ was significantly changed in preadipocytes by transfected with AdipoR1-siRNA1 or AdipoR1-GFP. However, the lipid accumulation and adipogenic gene expression were not significantly changed in preadipocytes by transfected with AdipoR2-siRNA2 and AdipoR2-GFP. Taken together, these results indicate that AdipoR1 could regulate sheep adipose metabolism via regulating HSL and PPARγ expression during adipocyte differentiation. Highlights We first established an in vitro culture system for sheep preadipocytes derived from the paraspinal muscle adipose. Sheep preadipocytes were ultimately differentiated into typical adipocytes after induction and differentiation. Both suppression and overexpression of adiponectin receptor 1 expression affect lipid accumulation and adipocyte metabolism during adipocyte differentiation.