Effect of clofibrate on malic enzyme and leptin mRNAs level in rat brown and white adipose tissue

Two previous studies have reported contradictory results regarding the effe ct of fibrates treatment on obese (ob) gene expression in rodents. The purp ose of the present study was to reinvestigate this issue. We examined the e ffect of clofibrate (fibrate derivative) administration for 14 days to rats on malic enzyme (as an adequate control of fibrates action) and leptin mRN As level in the white and brown adipose tissues (WAT and BAT, respectively) . The malic enzyme activity and malic enzyme mRNA level in white adipose ti ssue increased significantly after clofibrate feeding. In brown adipose tis sue, the drug treatment resulted in depression of malic enzyme activity and malic enzyme mRNA level. Under the same conditions, leptin mRNA level did not change in these tissues. The results presented in this paper provide fu rther evidence that the clofibrate (activator of peroxisome proliferator ac tivated receptor alpha), feeding is without effect on ob gene expression in rat white and brown adipose tissue. Furthermore, the present study demonst rates that clofibrate causes opposite effects on malic enzyme gene expressi on in WAT (up-regulation) and BAT (down-regulation).