Isolation method and characterization of adipocytes as a tool for equine obesity research - In vitro study.
Authors: Kołodziejski Paweł Antoni, Leciejewska Natalia, Sassek Maciej, Nogowski Leszek, Szumacher-Strabel Małgorzata, Mikuła Robert, Gogulski Maciej, Pruszyńska-Oszmałek Ewa
Journal: Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)
Summary
Equine obesity and associated metabolic dysfunction, particularly Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS), represent significant welfare and performance challenges, yet our understanding of the cellular mechanisms driving these conditions remains underdeveloped compared to other species. Polish researchers developed and optimised a protocol for isolating mature equine adipocytes from visceral adipose tissue obtained at slaughter, then characterised their metabolic responsiveness to key physiological stimuli including beta-adrenergic agonists (isoproterenol, epinephrine), adenylyl cyclase activators (forskolin), and insulin across multiple dose and time points. The isolated adipocytes—ranging from 50 to 160 µm in diameter—demonstrated robust metabolic functionality, with statistically significant dose-dependent lipolytic responses to all tested compounds (isoproterenol and high-dose epinephrine and forskolin showing p <0.001 or better) and insulin-stimulated lipogenesis that was both dose- and time-dependent. This validated in vitro model offers equine researchers a practical tool to investigate how nutritional, hormonal, and inflammatory factors influence adipocyte dysfunction in obese and metabolically compromised horses, potentially informing more targeted dietary and management interventions for EMS prevention and treatment. For practitioners, improved understanding of equine adipocyte biology at the cellular level may ultimately translate to better diagnostic markers and therapeutic strategies for managing obesity-related conditions in performance and leisure horses.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Improved understanding of equine adipocyte function provides a research foundation for developing better management and treatment strategies for obesity and EMS in horses
- •This in vitro model may facilitate testing of dietary supplements, pharmaceutical interventions, and management approaches targeting adipose tissue dysfunction in metabolically compromised horses
- •Research on equine adipocyte insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism can inform nutritional recommendations and metabolic monitoring protocols for at-risk horses
Key Findings
- •Successfully isolated mature equine adipocytes with diameters of 50-160 µm demonstrating full metabolic functionality
- •Isolated adipocytes responded dose-dependently to lipolytic factors: isoproterenol (all doses p<0.001), epinephrine (0.01-1 µM p<0.05 to p<0.0001), and forskolin (0.001 µM p<0.0001)
- •Equine adipocytes demonstrated dose- and time-dependent responses to insulin from multiple species (human, bovine) with significant effects at 10 nM and above after 2-8 hours
- •The developed isolation method provides an effective in vitro model for studying equine adipocyte dysfunction relevant to metabolic disorders