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Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Measuring the Rate of Lipolysis in Ex Vivo Murine Adipose Tissue and Primary Preadipocytes Differentiated In Vitro
Published on: March 17, 2023
Endocannabinoids, adipose tissue and lipid metabolism
C Pagano1, M Rossato, R Vettor
1Endocrine-Metabolic Laboratory, Clinica Medica 3, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy. claudio.pagano@unipd.it
Abstract:
Endocannabinoids regulate energy balance by modulating hypothalamic circuits controlling food intake and energy expenditure. However, convincing evidence has accumulated indicating that the endocannabinoid system is present also in peripheral tissues, in particular in adipose tissue. Fat cells produce (and are targets of) endocannabinoids. Adipogenesis, lipogenesis and glucose uptake are stimulated by endocannabinoids through CB(1) receptors and these effects are blocked by the CB(1) receptor antagonist rimonabant, suggesting that the weight-lowering effect of CB(1) receptor blockade is partly due to peripheral mechanisms. This review will focus on the role of endocannabinoids in adipose tissue metabolism, adipokine production and interactions between endocannabinoids and peroxisome proliferator activated receptors during adipogenesis.
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