Differential response of obese gene expression from fasting in bovine adipose tissues

To understand the molecular mechanism for intramuscular fat deposition, the expression of the obese gene was examined in response to fasting. Food dep rivation for 48 h induced a decrease in the level of obese mRNA in pooled a dipose tissues (abdominal, perirenal, subcutaneous, intermuscular and intra muscular). The expression of obese mRNA was examined for individual adipose tissue from several fat depots. It was highly expressed in perirenal adipo se tissue, but fasting did not affect its expression level in this tissue. Moderate levels were detected in subcutaneous and intermuscular adipose tis sues, and a fasting-induced decrease in obese mRNA was apparent in these ti ssues. The expression level of the obese gene in intramuscular adipose tiss ue was very low and did not respond to fasting.