Gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) is an incretin and directly promotes fat accumulation in adipocytes. Inhibition of GIP signaling prevents onset of obesity and increases fat oxidation in peripheral tissues under high-fat diet (HFD), but the mechanism is unknown. In the present Study, we investigated the effects of inhibition of GIP signaling on adiponectin levels after 3 weeks of HFD by comparing wild-type (WT) mice and GIP receptor-deficient (Gipr(-/-)) mice. In HFD-fed Gipr(-/-) mice, fat oxidation was significantly increased and adiponectin mRNA levels in white adipose tissue and plasma adiponectin levels were significantly increased compared to those in HFD-fed WT mice. In addition, the PPAR alpha mRNA level was increased and the ACC mRNA level was decreased in skeletal muscle of HFD-fed Gipr(-/-) mice compared with those in HFD-fed WT mice. These results indicate that inhibition of GIP signaling increases adiponectin levels, resulting in increased fat oxidation in peripheral tissues under HFD. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.