Effect of Retinoic Acid on Proliferation and Differentiation of Preadipocytes from Male and Female Pigs

The current study was undertaken to determine the effect of retinoic acid (RA) on proliferation and differentiation of preadipocytes from male and female pigs. The preadipocytes were isolated from new-born male and female pigs by collagenase digestion and washed three times one day after seeding (designated as day 0 of culture). RA was included in the media at various concentratives from day 0 to 2. The cell number was measured on day 2 with hematocytometer after trypsin digestion. Cell differentiation was determined on day 6 by measuring glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity. RA (0.1, 1 and 10 uM) showed no effect on proliferation of preadipocytes from both male and female pigs. However, RA significantly decreased differentiation of pig preadipocytes. Degree of differentiation with 0.1 uM, 1 uM and 10 uM of RA treatment was 80%, 41% and 29% respectively, compared with control. Similar inhibitory effect was found in the female pigs; 77%, 28% and 16% respectively. It is interesting that RA treated on cell proliferation stage had no effect on proliferation but had a strong inhibitory effect on differentiation which is happening in the late stage of cell culture.