Intermittent and rhythmic exposure to melatonin in primary cultured adipocytes enhances the insulin and dexamethasone effects on leptin expression

Considering the cyclic characteristic of production and secretion of pineal melatonin, it is reasonable to assume that this oscillation might be important in determining the variety of its circadian and seasonal effects. To simulate this physiological condition in vitro, isolated adipocytes were exposed to melatonin in a circadian-like pattern by adding the hormone to the incubating medium during 12 hr (mimicking the night), followed by an equal period without melatonin (mimicking the day). This intermittent procedure was interrupted when three cycles with melatonin were fulfilled (60-hr incubation). Here, we report the effects of melatonin (1 nM) added intermittently or continuously to the incubating medium alone or in combination with insulin (5 nM) and/or dexamethasone (7 nM) on leptin release and expression by rat adipocytes. After acute 12-hr incubation neither melatonin nor insulin alone affected leptin expression, but together they increased it by 105%. Dexamethasone increased leptin mRNA content and release (70%) but this effect was not enhanced by melatonin. Nevertheless, after 60 hr under intermittent melatonin, we observed a synergism between melatonin and dexamethasone. This interaction promoted an increment (75% compared with dexamethasone alone) in leptin release and expression. Our results suggest that circadian-like exposure to melatonin potentiates the dexamethasone action and is important to the effects promoted by insulin on leptin expression. Based on an in vitro approach, this work helps to clarify the physiological relevance and the repercussions of the in vivo circadian pattern of melatonin secretion.