[Effect of emodin on proliferation and differentiation of rat preadipocytes].

OBJECTIVE

To study the effect of emodin (EMO) on the proliferation and differentiation of rat preadipocytes.

METHOD

Separating and culturing rat preadipocytes, grouping the wells that preadipocytes were growing according to certain concentration such as 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160 micromol x L(-1) randomly, MTT spectrophotometry and flow cytometry (FCM) were adopted to determine the effect of EMO on proliferation of rat preadipocytes. The accumulation of TG (triglyceride) in adipocytes was assayed by oil red O staining, and the morphological changes of the adipocytes were determined by morphology observation.

RESULT

EMO in the range of 20-160 micromol x L(-1) could inhibit the proliferation and differentiation of preadipocytes in a dose and time dependent manner, and induce apoptosis of preadipocytes in a certain degree.

CONCLUSION

EMO should have a potential to serve as a fat-reducing drug.