Metformin treatment affects adipocytokine secretion and lipid composition in adipose tissues of diet-induced insulin-resistant rats.

•A high-fat diet induces insulin resistance.•Insulin resistance is associated with activation of hormone-sensitive lipase and increased ceramides and diacylglycerols content in subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue.•Metformin decreases ceramides and diacylglycerols in both fat tissues, inhibits hormone-sensitive lipase action, and restores the insulin resistance indicators to control values.•There is a strong correlation between adipocytokines and bioactive lipids in both fat tissues, suggesting that these lipids play an important role in regulating the expression or secretion of adipocytokines.