The PPAR delta Agonist GW501516 Improves Lipolytic/Lipogenic Balance through CPT1 and PEPCK during the Development of Pre-Implantation Bovine Embryos

Abstract

The PPARs (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors) play critical roles in the regulation of lipid and glucose metabolism. PPAR delta, a member of the PPARs family, is associated with decreased susceptibility to ectopic lipid deposition and is implicated in the regulation of mitochondrial processes. The current study aimed to determine the role of PPAR delta in fatty acid beta-oxidation and its influence on PEPCK for the lipogenic/lipolytic balance during in vitro bovine oocyte maturation and embryo development. Activation of PPAR delta by GW501516, but not 2-BP, was indicated by intact embryonic PEPCK (cytosolic) and CPT1 expression and the balance between free fatty acids and mitochondrial beta-oxidation that reduced ROS and inhibited p-NF-kappa B nuclear localization. Genes involved in lipolysis, fatty acid oxidation, and apoptosis showed significant differences after the GW501516 treatment relative to the control- and 2-BP-treated embryos. GSK3787 reversed the PPAR delta-induced effects by reducing PEPCK and CPT1 expression and the mitochondrial membrane potential, revealing the importance of PPAR delta/PEPCK and PPAR delta/CPT1 for controlling lipolysis during embryo development. In conclusion, GW501516-activated PPAR delta maintained the correlation between lipolysis and lipogenesis by enhancing PEPCK and CPT1 to improve bovine embryo quality.