Effects of cyclic plasma perfusion on adipocyte apoptosis and lipolytic activity in VX2 carcinoma-bearing rabbits

Background: In an animal model we found that total body fat (TBF) decreased with progression of tumors, but that it rebounded after cyclic plasma perf usion (CPP). In this study, we investigated changes in adipocyte apoptosis and serum lipolytic activity (LA) after CPP. Materials and Methods: TBF, LA , and adipocyte apoptotic index (AAI) in VX2 carcinoma-bearing rabbits were measured every ten days after implantation. CPP was performed every 5 days from post-implantation day (PID) 14. Results: TBF dea eased as the days pa ssed and reached 43.2+/-10.0% on PID 50 in the non-CPP group, while it decr eased 22.7+/-8.8% in the CPP group. LA on PID 50 was 17.8+/-14.0, 33.2+/-6. 3 mu mol glycerol/10(5) adipocytes in the non-CPP group, while LA did not i ncrease in the CPP group. AAI was 28.8+/-16.4, 27.8+/-17.7, 10.3+/-9.9 and 0.4+/-1.1 on PID 10, 20, 30, and 40, respectively, in the non-CPP group. No change was noted in AAI after CPP. Conclusions: CPP removed a humoral fact or that possesses TBF-decreasing LA, but it did not suppress adipocyte apop tosis.