Adipose tissue homeostasis orchestrates the oxidative, energetic, metabolic and endocrine disruption induced by binge drinking in adolescent rats
Authors: Romero‐Herrera Inés , Nogales Fátima , Gallego‐López María del Carmen , Díaz‐Castro Javier , Moreno‐Fernandez Jorge , Ochoa Julio José , Carreras Olimpia , Ojeda Mª Luisa 
Published: November 2023

Binge drinking (BD) is the most common alcohol consumption model for adolescents, and has recently been related to the generation of high oxidation and insulin resistance (IR). White adipose tissue (WAT) is a target organ for insulin action that regulates whole‐body metabolism by secreting adipokines. The present study aimed to analyse the oxidative, inflammatory, energetic and endocrine profile in the WAT of BD‐exposed adolescent rats, to obtain an integrative view of insulin secretion and WAT in IR progression. Two groups of male adolescent rats were used: control (n = 8) and BD (n = 8). An intermittent i.p. BD model (20% v/v) was used during 3 consecutive weeks. BD exposure led to a pancreatic oxidative imbalance, which was joint to high insulin secretion by augmenting deacetylase sirtuin‐1 (SIRT‐1) pancreatic expression and serum adipsin levels. However, BD rats had hyperglycaemia and high homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance value (HOMA‐IR). BD exposure in WAT increased lipid oxidation, as well as decreased insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS‐1) and AKT expression, sterol regulatory element‐binding protein 1 (SREBP1), forkhead box O3A (FOXO3a) and peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ (PPARγ), and adipocyte size. BD also affected the expression of proteins related to energy balance, such as SIRT‐1 and AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK), affecting the adipokine secretion profile (increasing resistin/adiponectin ratio). BD altered the entire serum lipid profile, increasing the concentration of free fatty acids. In conclusion, BD led to an oxidative imbalance and IR process in WAT, which modified the energy balance in this tissue, decreasing the WAT lipogenic/lipolytic ratio, affecting adipokine secretion and the systemic lipid profile, and contributing to the progression of IR. Therefore, WAT is key in the generation of metabolic and endocrine disruption after BD exposure during adolescence in rats.

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Key points

Adolescent rat binge drinking (BD) exposure leads to hepatic and systemic oxidative stress (OS) via reactive oxygen species generation, causing hepatic insulin resistance (IR) and altered energy metabolism.

In the present study, BD exposure in adolescent rats induces OS in the pancreas, with increased insulin secretion despite hyperglycaemia, indicating a role for IR in white adipose tissue (WAT) homeostasis.

In WAT, BD produces IR and an oxidative and energetic imbalance, triggering an intense lipolysis where the serum lipid profile is altered and free fatty acids are increased, consistent with liver lipid accumulation and steatosis.

BD exposure heightens inflammation in WAT, elevating pro‐inflammatory and reducing anti‐inflammatory adipokines, favouring cardiovascular damage.

This research provides a comprehensive view of how adolescent BD in rats impacts liver, WAT and pancreas homeostasis, posing a risk for future cardiometabolic complications in adulthood.