Inhibition of lipogenesis in rat brown adipose tissue by clofibrate

The effect of clofibrate (Atromid S, ethyl-2-(4-chlorophenoxy)-2-methylpropionate) administration for 7 days to rats on lipogenesis and on some lipogenic enzyme activities in brown adipose tissue (BAT), liver and white adipose tissue (WAT) was examined. As compared to control rats the rate of lipogenesis in BAT in the clofibrate-treated animals was significantly decreased. The rate of liver lipogenesis increased slightly, whereas lipogenesis in the WAT was not affected by clofibrate. In BAT, the drug treatment resulted in depression of fatty acid synthase, ATP-citrate lyase, malic enzyme, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase activities. The activity of liver fatty acid synthase did not change, ATP-citrate lyase activity slightly decreased, whereas the activity of malic enzyme significantly increased in this organ after clofibrate feeding. The ATP-citrate lyase activity in WAT decreased, while fatty acid synthase and other lipogenic enzymes were not changed after clofibrate feeding. Clofibrate treatment did not influence the activity of NADP-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase (enzymes not linked directly to lipogenesis), either in BAT, liver or WAT. The data presented suggest that the hypolipidaemic effect of clofibrate in the rat may be due (possibly among other mechanisms) to reduction of the rate of fatty acid synthesis in BAT but not in the liver and WAT.