Effect of environmental temperature on dietary obesity in Osborne-Mendel rats

The effects of cold acclimation on cellularity, lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity and lipolysis were studied in white adipose tissue of rats fed a high fat diet. Male Osborne-Mendel rats (7 weeks old) were exposed at either 28 or 5 degrees C for 10 weeks. The rats were fed a semipurified diet (normal fat (NL): 5% lard, high fat (HL): 54% lard) for the last 9 weeks. Caloric intake with NL and HL diets were comparable and cold exposure led to the same increase with both diets. At 28 degrees C, HL diet initiated both hypertrophy and hyperplasia; however, at 5 degrees C only hyperplasia was observed. Total LPL activity showed high stimulation both in 28 and 5 degrees C HL rats. In vitro lipolytic stimulation by norepinephrine was lowered at 5 degrees C and abolished at 28 degrees C in HL-fed rats. HL diet resulted in enhanced lipid deposition without an increase in caloric intake. Even in cold-adapted Osborne-Mendel rats a relative obesity could be produced by a HL diet.