Influence of moderate exercise on adipocyte metabolism and hormonal responsiveness

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Abstract
The effects of a moderate exercise program on several body parameters and on adipocyte metabolic functions were studied in male rats trained to run on a treadmill. At the end of a 12-wk program no significant changes in body weight, food consumption or the weight of several organs (liver, kidneys, spleen, testes) were observed in trained rats as compared to sedentary animals. The trained rats presented a slight decrease in weight of the epididymal fat pads which was due to a minor change in adipocyte size, without any change in adipocyte number. In spite of these minimal effects on adipocyte morphology, exercise training affected several parameters of adipocyte metabolism: it significantly reduced basal lipolysis per cell (P < 0.05) and basal glucose metabolism to CO2 and triglyceride (P < 0.02); the insulin effect on stimulation of glucose metabolism was unchanged, but the epinephrine effect on it was reduced (P < 0.001); epinephrine produced a significantly greater (P < 0.05) acceleration of lipolysis; the intracellular free fatty acid levels were higher (P < 0.025) in the basal state and also after insulin and epinephrine (P < 0.05 for both). Exercise training in animals apparently leads to modifications of adipocyte metabolism and hormonal responsiveness even when a modest degree of exercise, unable to affect bodyweight or adipocyte morphology, is applied.