cis-9, trans-11 and trans-10,cis-12 CLA affect lipid metabolism differently in primary white and brown adipocytes of Djungarian hamsters

We explored whether CLA isomers and other C,8 FA affect (i) lipid content and FA concentrations in total adipocyte lipids, (ii) FA synthesis from glucose in TAG and phospholipids of primary brown (BAT) and white adipocytes (WAT), and (iii) mRNA expression of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) in primary brown adipocytes of Djungarian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus). c9, t11-CLA, oleic, linoleic, and alpha-linolenic acid increased whereas t10, c12-CLA decreased lipid accumulation in both adipocyte types. t10, c12-CLA treatment affected FA composition mainly in BAT cells. CLA incorporation into lipids, in particular c9, t11-CLA, was higher in BAT. In both cell types, t10,c12-CLA treatment reduced the incorporation of glucose C-13 carbon into FA of TAG and phospholipids, whereas c9, t11-CLA, linoleic, and alpha-linolenic acid either did not influence or dose-dependently increased glucose carbon incorporation into FA. UCP1 mRNA expression was inhibited by t10,c12-CLA but increased by c9,t11-CLA, linoleic, and alpha-linolenic acid. It is concluded that c9, t11-CLA and t10, c12-CLA have distinctly different effects on lipid metabolism in primary adipocytes. The effects of c9, t11-CLA are similar to those of other unsaturated C-18 FA. The opposite effects of c9, t11-CLA and t10, c12-CLA are evident in both WAT and BAT cultures; however, brown adipocytes seem to be more susceptible to CLA treatment.