Regulation of PGC-1 alpha in White Adipose Tissue by Exercise

• Author / Creator

  Sutherland, Lindsey

• This project investigated the effects of exercise and epinephrine on the mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1 alpha), a master regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis, in rat adipose tissue. Rats that swam 2 hours daily for 4 weeks had increased mitochondrial marker proteins and PGC-1 alpha mRNA expression in epididymal and retroperitoneal adipose tissue (p<0.05). Adipose tissue organ culture treatment with epinephrine increased (p<0.05) PGC-1 alpha mRNA expression in both depots, but only epididymal adipose responded to a supra-physiological dose. Beta blockade attenuated the effects of an acute bout of exercise on PGC-1 alpha mRNA expression in epididymal, but not in retroperitoneal adipose tissue. This is the first study to demonstrate that rat white adipose tissue PGC-1 alpha mRNA expression is increased by acute and chronic exercise and epinephrine. Increases in circulating catecholamine levels might be one potential mechanism mediating exercise induced increases in PGC-1 alpha mRNA expression in rat abdominal adipose tissue.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Adipose
  • PGC-1
  • Mitochondria

• Graduation date

  Fall 2009

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3FD35

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.