Fig. 1.

Phenamil induces adipocyte differentiation and PPARγ expression in preadipocytes. A: Chemical structures of amiloride derivatives. Amiloride, benzamil, DMA, and phenamil are shown. B–D: Effects of amiloride derivatives on adipocyte differentiation. Phenamil (but not other derivatives) induces expression of adipogenic genes and adipocyte differentiation. B–C: Oil Red O staining of amiloride derivatives-treated cells. B: Differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells into adipocytes was induced by DMI and amiloride derivatives or GW7845 (GW; 20 nM). C: 3T3-F442A preadipocytes were treated for six days with the amiloride derivatives. D: 3T3-F442A cells were treated for six days with 10 μM amiloride derivatives or GW7845. Expression of adipogenic genes encoding PPARγ, aP2, and adiponectin were measured by real time PCR. ^*P < 0.05, ^**P < 0.005, ^***P < 0.0005. amil, amiloride; ben, benzamil; DMA, dimethyl amiloride hydrochloride; phe, phenamil; PPARγ, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ.