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Updated: Feb 4, 2026

Author Spotlight: Isolation and Identification of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Adipose Tissue of Sprague Dawley Rats
Published on: April 7, 2023
Gene expression profiling in adipose tissue of Sprague Dawley rats identifies olfactory receptor 984 as a potential
Maria Elena Giusepponi1, Matthias Kern2, Rima Chakaroun3
1Department of Medicine, University of Leipzig, 04103, Leipzig, Germany; Pharmacology Unit, School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy.
Abstract:
The aim of the study was to identify and functionally characterize novel candidate gene/s involved in the development of resistance to diet-induced obesity in rats. In a high-fat-diet (HFD) study of rats, we found subgroups which either developed resistance to HFD-induced obesity (DR) or showed an obesity-prone phenotype (DIO). Gene expression analysis in 10 samples (5 DIO vs 5 DR) was performed. The most promising gene, OR6C3 (orthologous with rat Olr984 and mouse Olfr788) was measured by qRT-PCR in paired samples of human visceral (Vis) and subcutaneous (SC) adipose tissue (AT) (n = 225) and in sub-fractions of adipocytes and cells of stromal vascular fraction. Gene expression analyses showed Olr984 with significantly reduced mRNA expression in DR rats. In the Vis AT of human samples we found an up-regulation of OR6C3 compared to SC AT, independent of gender, glucose tolerance or type 2 diabetes. We observed significantly lower levels of SC AT OR6C3 mRNA in subjects with obesity compared to those with normal-weight or overweight. OR6C3 is more expressed in SVF than in adipocytes. Olr984 could be a novel candidate gene related to diet-induced obesity in rats. Variation in human AT mRNA expression is related to obesity parameters and glucose homeostasis and linked to the regulatory role of insulin on the Olr984.
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