EFFECTS OF FASTING AND REFEEDING ON OB GENE-EXPRESSION IN WHITE ADIPOSE-TISSUE OF LEAN AND OBESE (OBLOB) MICE

A 33-mer antisense oligonucleotide has been utilized as a probe for th e rapid chemiluminescence-based detection of ob (obese) mRNA. Expressi on of the ob gene was evident in several white adipose tissue depots o f mice (epididymal, highest; subcutaneous and omental, lowest), but no t in other organs. Fasting (24 h) induced a substantial fall in ob mRN A in the epididymal fat of lean mice, which was rapidly reversed on re feeding, responses consistent with the putative role of ob in energy b alance, Easting had no effect, however, on ob mRNA levels in obese (ob lob) mice.