The effect of N-stearoylethanolamine on adipocytes free cholesterol content and phospholipid composition in rats with obesity-induced insulin resistance

Abstract

Obesity induces molecular changes that promote associated disorders, such as insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes. Low insulin sensitivity occurs primarily due to defects in the pathway of insulin action in target tissues, and there is a hypothesis that IR may originate in adipose tissue and is followed by dyslipidemia. In this study using methods of thin-layer and gas-liquid chromatography we investigated free cholesterol content and phospholipid composition of adipocytes of obesity-induced IR rats and its changes induced by the N-stearoylethanolamine (NSE) administration. The results we obtained demonstrated that free cholesterol content significantly increased in adipocytes of IR rats compared to control. The analysis of phospholipid composition indicated a reduction of phosphatidylcholine and the total content of phosphatidylinositol with phosphatidylserine, whereas the content of lysophosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin and phosphatidylethanolamine increased in IR group compared to control. NSE administration caused a statistically significant decrease in total cholesterol level and had a considerable effect on normalization of individual phospholipids content. As far as NSE administration caused a statistically significant decrease in free cholesterol level and had a considerable effect on normalization of individual phospholipids content of adipocytes, we can consider NSE as a prospective compound worthy more complex investigation of its action under the pathological conditions.

Keywords

• adipose tissue
• cholesterol content
• experimental insulin resistance
• N-stearoylethanolamine
• obesity
• phospholipids