Effects of aerobic exercise on the inflammatory cytokine profile and expression of lipolytic and thermogenic genes in β 1 -AR -/- mice adipose tissue.

AIM: Investigate the effects of moderate continuous aerobic exercise (MCAE) on the inflammatory cytokine profile and expression of lipolytic and thermogenic genes in β1 -AR-/- mice adipose tissue.

MAIN METHODS: Four- to five-month-old male wild type (WT) and β1 -AR-/- mice were divided into groups: WT control (WTc) and trained (WTt); and β1 -AR-/- control (β1 -AR-/- c) and trained (β1 -AR-/- t). Animals from trained groups were submitted to a MCAE regimen (60 min/day; 60% of maximal speed, 5 days/week) on a treadmill, for 8 weeks. After euthanasia, white epididymal (eWAT) and inguinal (iWAT) and brown (BAT) adipose tissues were dissected and used to determine: adiposity index; adipocyte histomorphometry; cytokine concentration; and gene expression. The content of fat, protein and water of the empty carcass was determined.

KEY FINDINGS: MCAE reduced body weight, fat mass as well as iWAT and BAT adipocyte area in β1 -AR-/- animals. Aerobic exercise also diminished the concentrations of pro-inflammatory (IL-12p70, TNF-α, IL-6) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines in adipose tissue (iWAT, eWAT or BAT) of β1 -AR-/- mice. However, MCAE had no effect on the expression lipolytic and thermogenic genes in β1 -AR-/- mice adipose tissue.

SIGNIFICANCE: Alongside reductions in body weight, fat mass and adipocyte area eight weeks of MCAE improves the profile of inflammatory cytokines in β1 -AR-/- mice adipose tissue, despite no change in lipolitic and thermogenic gene expression.