Depot-specific effects of treadmill running and rutin on white adipose tissue function in diet-induced obese mice

White adipose tissue (WAT) is a critical organ involved in regulating metabolic homeostasis under obese condition. Strategies that could positively affect WAT function would hold promise for fighting against obesity and its complications. The aim of the present study is to explore the effects of treadmill exercise training and rutin intervention on adipose tissue function from diet-induced obese (DIO) mice and whether fat depot-specific effects existed. In epididymal adipose tissue, high-fat diet (HFD) resulted in reduction in adiponectin mRNA expression, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR)-γ and DsbA-L protein expression, elevation in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers including 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP-78), C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) and p-c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Isoproterenol-stimulated lipolysis and insulin stimulated Akt phosphorylation ex vivo were blunted from HFD group. The combination of rutin with exercise (HRE) completely restored GRP78 and p-JNK protein expression to normal levels, as well as blunted signaling ex vivo. In inguinal adipose tissue, HFD led to increased adiponectin mRNA expression, PPAR-γ, GRP78, and p-JNK protein expression, and reduction in DsbA-L. HRE is effective for restoring p-JNK, PPAR-γ, and DsbA-L. In conclusion, depot-specific effects may exist in regard to the effects of rutin and exercise on key molecules involved in regulating adipose tissue function (i.e., ER stress markers, PPAR-γ and DsbA-L, adiponectin expression, and secretion, ex vivo catecholamine stimulated lipolysis and insulin stimulated Akt phosphorylation) from DIO mice.