Effects of β2-adrenoceptor agonists on gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) cultured muscle cells

The autophagy response during adipogenesis of primary cultured rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) adipocytes

Adipogenesis is a tightly regulated process, and the involvement of autophagy has been recently proposed in mammalian models. In rainbow trout, two well-defined phases describe the development of primary cultured adipocyte cells: proliferation and differentiation. Nevertheless, information on the transcriptional profile at the onset of differentiation and the potential role of autophagy in this process is scarce. In the present study, the cells showed an early and transient induction of several adipogenic transcription factors genes' expression (i.e., cebpa and cebpb) along with the morphological changes (round shape filled with small lipid droplets) typical of the onset of adipogenesis. Then, the expression of various lipid metabolism-related genes involving the synthesis (fas), uptake (fatp1 and cd36), accumulation (plin2) and mobilization (hsl) of lipids, characteristic of the mature adipocyte, increased. In parallel, several autophagy markers (i.e., atg4b, gabarapl1 and lc3b) mirrored the expression of those adipogenic-related genes, suggesting a role of autophagy during in vitro fish adipogenesis. In this regard, the incubation of preadipocytes with lysosomal inhibitors (Bafilomycin A1 or Chloroquine), described to prevent autophagy flux, delayed the process of adipogenesis (i.e., cell remodelling), thus suggesting a possible relationship between autophagy and adipocyte differentiation in trout. Moreover, the disruption of the autophagic flux altered the expression of some key adipogenic genes such as cebpa and pparg. Overall, this study contributes to improve our knowledge on the regulation of rainbow trout adipocyte differentiation, and highlights for the first time in fish the involvement of autophagy on adipogenesis, suggesting a close-fitting connection between both processes.

The probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus mimics the dark-driven regulation of appetite markers and melatonin receptors' expression in zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae: Understanding the role of the gut microbiome

The use of probiotics has been recently considered a novel therapeutic strategy to prevent pathologies such as obesity; however, the specific mechanisms of action by which probiotics exert their beneficial effects on metabolic health remain unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the short-term effects of a probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus supplementation (PROB) on appetite regulation, growth-related markers, and microbiota diversity in zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae, compared to a group subjected to a constant darkness photoperiod (DARK), as well as to evaluate the effects of both treatments on melatonin receptors' expression. After a 24 h treatment, both PROB and DARK conditions caused a significant increase in leptin a expression. Moreover, mRNA abundances of leptin b and proopiomelanocortin a were elevated in the PROB group, and DARK showed a similar tendency, supporting a negative regulation of appetite markers by the treatments. Moreover, both PROB and DARK also enhanced the abundances of melatonin receptors transcript (melatonin receptor 1 ba and bb) and protein (melatonin receptor 1) suggesting a potential involvement of melatonin in mediating these effects. Nevertheless, treatments did not exhibit a significant effect on the expression of most of the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor axis genes evaluated. Finally, only the DARK condition significantly modulated gut microbiota diversity at such short time, altogether highlighting the rapid effects of this probiotic on modulating appetite regulatory and melatonin receptors' expression, without a concomitant variation of gut microbiota.

Genistein Induces Adipogenic and Autophagic Effects in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Adipose Tissue: In Vitro and In Vivo Models

Soybeans are one of the most used alternative dietary ingredients in aquafeeds. However, they contain phytoestrogens like genistein (GE), which can have an impact on fish metabolism and health. This study aimed to investigate the in vitro and in vivo effects of GE on lipid metabolism, apoptosis, and autophagy in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Primary cultured preadipocytes were incubated with GE at different concentrations, 10 or 100 μM, and 1 μM 17β-estradiol (E2). Furthermore, juveniles received an intraperitoneal injection of GE at 5 or 50 µg/g body weight, or E2 at 5 µg/g. In vitro, GE 100 μM increased lipid accumulation and reduced cell viability, apparently involving an autophagic process, indicated by the higher LC3-II protein levels, and higher lc3b and cathepsin d transcript levels achieved after GE 10 μM. In vivo, GE 50 µg/g upregulated the gene expression of fatty acid synthase (fas) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in adipose tissue, suggesting enhanced lipogenesis, whereas it increased hormone-sensitive lipase in liver, indicating a lipolytic response. Besides, autophagy-related genes increased in the tissues analyzed mainly after GE 50 µg/g treatment. Overall, these findings suggest that an elevated GE administration could lead to impaired adipocyte viability and lipid metabolism dysregulation in rainbow trout.