Body fat regulation after partial lipectomy in Siberian hamsters is photoperiod dependent and fat pad specific.

Siberian hamsters exhibit seasonal fluctuations in body weight (fat). Initial exposure to a short photoperiod results in body fat loss that reverses after approximately 22 wk of short-day exposure. The purpose of this study was to determine whether Siberian hamsters are able to recover body fat after surgical reduction of total lipid stores and if so, whether this ability is photoperiod dependent and fat pad specific. Either the largest pair of internal fat pads, the epididymal white adipose tissue (EWAT) or one pair of two large external depots, the inguinal (IWAT) fat pads, were removed from male hamsters housed for 22 wk in a long (LD) or short (SD) photoperiod. Retroperitoneal fat pad (RWAT) mass was increased in LD EWAT- and IWAT-lipectomized hamsters. IWAT mass also was increased in the LD EWAT-lipectomized hamsters. Neither SD-lipectomized group compensated for body fat loss in any of the measured fat pads. Increased food intake was not necessary for total body fat recovery, but undereating partially may be responsible for the lack of recovery in SDs. The results of these experiments demonstrate a photoperiod-dependent ability of male Siberian hamsters to regulate total body fat after partial lipectomy. In addition, recovery involves a fat pad-specific compensatory response to partial lipectomy, rather than a general increase in lipid deposition in all fat depots.