Public Thesis defense - LIBST

Precision-cut adipose tissue slices from northern elephant seals and pigs : innovative models to study adipose tissue under multiple stressors by Laura PIRARD

Pour l’obtention du grade académique de Doctorat en Sciences agronomiques et Ingénierie biologique

The present thesis aimed at investigating the impact of multiple stressors to which adipose tissue is exposed through an innovative ex vivo approach of precision-cut adipose tissue slices (PCATS). Northern elephant seal (NES) pups were used as a model for marine mammals. Exposure of PCATS to stress hormones epinephrine and cortisol regulated key lipases and increased lipolysis. PCBs present in PCATS were mainly retained within the tissue. Their limited mobilization depended on their degree of lipophilicity. Leptin was downregulated by epinephrine while cortisol offset this effect. A subsequent transcriptomic study on combined stress hormones, a mixture of POPs and high-pressure cycles showed alterations of genes related to key biological processes such as inflammation and autophagy in PCATS. We also highlighted potential marker genes of stress status in blubber. In addition to the NES model, PCATS were also successfully developed on porcine subcutaneous adipose tissue as a model for human health. Exposure of porcine PCATS to a mixture of POPs decreased basal and epinephrine-induced lipolysis in a dose-dependent way. This work brings new insights in the interactive alterations caused by multiple stressors on adipose tissue. The PCATS method opens the way for additional ecotoxicological research in wildlife and studies in human health.

Jury members :

• Promotrice : Prof. Cathy Debier
• Président du jury : Prof. Michel Ghislain
• Membres du jury : Prof. Isabelle Donnay
• Prof. Jane Khudyakov
• Prof. Jean-François Rees
• Prof. Frédéric Silvestre

Pay attention :

The public defense of Laura PIRARD scheduled for Thursday February 16 at 5:00 p.m. will also take place in the form of a video conference

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