Expression of key genes involved in lipid deposition in intramuscular adipocytes of sheep under high glucose conditions

The intramuscular fat (IMF) content in sheep is associated with IMF deposition, which is affected by intramuscular adipocyte hypertrophy. In this study, we established an in vitro high glucose model of intramuscular adipocytes of sheep to investigate the expression of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) gene, fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) gene, lipid metabolism-associated genes (acetyl-CoA carboxylase [ACC], fatty acid synthase [FAS], and stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 [SCD1]), and transcription factors (liver X receptor [LXRα]), sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor 1 [SREBF-1], and carbohydrate-responsive element-binding protein [ChREBP]) as well as the changes in the lipid and triglyceride (TG) levels in intramuscular adipocytes. The results showed that the differentiated mature adipocytes had a spherical shape, and the number and volume of the lipid droplets gradually increased over time under high glucose conditions. The lipid and TG levels in intramuscular adipocytes of sheep continuously increased under high glucose conditions. Furthermore, CB1, FABP4, ACC, FAS, SCD1, LXRα, SREBF-1, and ChREBP were highly expressed under high glucose conditions, suggesting that the energetic nutrients also affect the expression of the CB1 gene, which works in coordination with lipid metabolism-associated genes and are beneficial for lipid deposition in the intramuscular adipocytes of sheep.