[Seasonal cycles of adipocyte lipogenesis and blood insulin in the young rabbit]

The young domestic rabbit (2.5 months old) shows seasonal variation in metabolism similar to wild mammal. During the annual seasonal cycle we observed variations in the intensity of lipogenesis in isolated perirenal adipocytes; fatty acid synthesis, which uses acetate as a precursor rather than glucose, reaches a maximum in winter and a minimum in spring. The magnitude of the glucose induced pancreatic insulin response varies during the annual seasonal cycle and it follows the variations in the lipogenesis cycle; thus, the plasma IRI increase is highest in winter when maximum lipogenesis occurs.