OBJECTIVE: Obesity is a metabolic disorder that can lead to high blood pressure, 
increased blood cholesterol and triglycerides, insulin resistance, and diabetes 
mellitus. The aim was to study the effects of pioglitazone mediated 
sensitization of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) on 
the relationship of Cell death-inducing DFFA-like effector C (CIDEC) with 
obesity related changes in mice.
METHODS: Sixty C57B/L6 mice weighing 10-12g at 3 weeks of age were randomly 
divided into 3 groups. Mice in Group 1 were fed on normal diet (ND) while Group 
2 mice were given high fat diet (HFD), and Group 3 mice were given high fat diet 
and treated with Pioglitazone (HFD+P). Body weight, length and level of blood 
sugar were measured weekly. Quantitative real-time PCR, fluorescence microscopy, 
and ELISA were performed to analyze the expression of CIDEC and PPAR-γ in 
visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT).
RESULTS: Body weight and length of mice increased gradually with time in all 
groups. Blood sugar in HFD mice started to increase significantly from the mid 
of late phase of obesity while pioglitazone attenuated blood sugar level in 
HFD+P mice. The mRNA expressions and protein levels of PPAR-γ and CIDEC genes 
started to increase in HFD mice as compared to ND mice and decreased gradually 
during the late phase of obesity in VAT. Pioglitazone enhanced the expression of 
PPAR-γ and CIDEC genes in HFD+P mice even during the late phase of obesity.
CONCLUSION: It is insinuated that VAT is associated with late phase obesity 
CIDEC decrease and insulin resistance, while pioglitazone enhances CIDEC through 
activation of PPAR-γ, increases its expression, and decreases lipolysis, hence 
preventing an increase of blood sugar in mice exposed to HFD.