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Updated: May 19, 2026
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Identification and Dissection of Diverse Mouse Adipose Depots
Published on: July 11, 2019
Adiponectin enhances mouse fetal fat deposition
Liping Qiao1, Hyung Sun Yoo, Alysha Madon
1Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.
Diabetes
|August 9, 2012
Summary
Maternal obesity increases fetal fat deposition and birth weight, with adiponectin playing a key role. Reducing adiponectin levels can mitigate these effects, offering insights into metabolic health.
Area of Science:
- Metabolic Health
- Developmental Biology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Maternal obesity is linked to increased offspring birth weight and obesity risk.
- Adiponectin, an adipocyte hormone, regulates energy homeostasis, with neonatal levels correlating positively with adiposity.
- The role of adiponectin in maternal obesity-driven fetal fat deposition requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate adiponectin's role in maternal obesity-induced fetal fat deposition.
- To determine if adiponectin mediates increased fetal fat mass in offspring of obese mothers.
Main Methods:
- Utilized high-fat diet-induced obese mouse models.
- Employed adiponectin gene knockout (Adipoq(-/-)) mice.
- Used cross-breeding strategies to assess fetal adiponectin effects.
Main Results:
- Maternal obesity elevated fetal fat mass and fetal blood adiponectin.
- Adiponectin gene knockout attenuated maternal obesity-induced fetal fat accumulation.
- Offspring with one adiponectin gene copy (Adipoq(-/+)) exhibited increased fat mass and elevated lipogenic gene expression.
Conclusions:
- Adiponectin enhances fetal fat deposition.
- Adiponectin is a significant mediator of maternal obesity-induced high birth weight and fetal adiposity.
- Targeting adiponectin may offer strategies to prevent obesity-related developmental issues.
