Fig. 3.

Melatonin promotes IMF lipolysis. A–D: Intramuscular preadipocytes were cultured in DMI with or without 1 mM of melatonin and samples were collected on days 0, 2, 4, and 6. The expression levels of the related genes [HSL (A), ATGL (B), PLIN1 (C), and UCP3 (D)] were detected by RT-qPCR. E: After 2 days of melatonin treatment, porcine mature adipocytes showed smaller lipid droplets (image for viewing) (red scale bar = 100 μm). F: Smoothed distribution of lipid droplets’ diameter sizes obtained using the LipiD-QuanT software during adipogenesis (n = 803 lipid droplets). G: Free glycerol release was assessed by glycerol assay kit. Data are represented as the mean ± SEM (*P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001; n = 3).