Exercise and adrenaline increase PGC-1α mRNA expression in rat adipose tissue

The purpose of the present investigation was to explore the effects of exercise and adrenaline on the mRNA expression of PGC-1 alpha, a master regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis, in rat abdominal adipose tissue. We hypothesized that (1) exercise training would increase PGC-1 alpha mRNA expression in association with increases in mitochondrial marker enzymes, (2) adrenaline would increase PGC-1 alpha mRNA expression and (3) the effect of exercise on PGC-1 alpha mRNA expression in white adipose tissue would be attenuated by a beta-blocker. Two hours of daily swim training for 4 weeks led to increases in mitochondrial marker proteins and PGC-1 alpha mRNA expression in epididymal and retroperitoneal fat depots. Additionally, a single 2 h bout of exercise led to increases in PGC-1 alpha mRNA expression immediately following exercise cessation. Adrenaline treatment of adipose tissue organ cultures led to dose-dependent increases in PGC-1 alpha mRNA expression. A supra-physiological concentration of adrenaline increased PGC-1 alpha mRNA expression in epididymal but not retroperitoneal adipose tissue. beta-Blockade attenuated the effects of an acute bout of exercise on PGC-1 alpha mRNA expression in epididymal but not retroperitoneal fat pads. In summary, this is the first investigation to demonstrate that exercise training, an acute bout of exercise and adrenaline all increase PGC-1 alpha mRNA expression in rat white adipose tissue. Furthermore it would appear that increases in circulating catecholamine levels may be one potential mechanism mediating exercise induced increases in PGC-1 alpha mRNA expression in rat abdominal adipose tissue.