Systemic administration of epidermal growth factor reduces fat mass in rats: Effects on the hormone-sensitive-lipase, lipoprotein lipase and leptin

We examined whether the reduction in fat mass induced by EGF treatment in m ature animals was via activation of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) and ther eby the induction of lipolysis, or through inhibition of lipoprotein lipase activity thus reducing fat uptake in adipose tissue. Sixteen male rats wer e treated with placebo or EGF 150 mu g/kg/day for 7 days via mini-osmotic p umps. The results demonstrate that systemic EGF treatment reduces the amoun t of adipose tissue, most likely due to increased lipolysis as HSL activity as well as HSL mRNA were increased. The circulating levels of free fatty a cids were slightly increased and leptin levels reflected the decrease in ad ipose tissue mass.