Age-specific effects of short- and long-term caloric restriction on the expression of adiponectin and adiponectin receptors: influence of intensity of food restriction

Hormonal signals from adipose tissue regulate energy homeostasis and may be involved in anti-aging effects of caloric restriction (CR). The adipokine adiponectin is abundantly expressed in adipose tissue and directly sensitizes the body to insulin. The purpose of the current study was to investigate age-dependent effects of different levels of CR (16%, 2 months or 40%, 6 months) on adiponectin and on its receptors AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 in the left ventricle (LV). In young and senescent rats, 2 months of moderate CR reduced serum leptin. The same diet was sufficient to enhance serum adiponectin, adiponectin expression (visceral fat) and left ventricular AdipoR1 expression in young but not in senescent rats. The higher degree of CR, however, resulted in a mild induction of adiponectin expression in adipose tissue and release into plasma together with increased LV AdipoR1 also in old rats, while these effects were more pronounced in young rats. These changes in adiponectin activation were associated with reduced LV triglyceride content, suggesting an adiponectin-mediated reduced ectopic lipid deposition in nonadipose tissues. Thus, aging is associated with a loss of adiponectin inducibility by moderate CR. This reduction can only partially be overcome by increasing the degree and duration of CR.