Search PubMedSearch

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Lipolysis”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Perifusion of isolated rat adipose cells. Modulation of lipolysis by adenosine.

Incubation of isolated rat epididymal fat cells is associated with the accumulation of adenosine in the incubation medium. To more clearly define the effect of adenosine on lipolysis, isolated rat epididymal adipocytes were studied with the perifusion system. Various combinations of epinephrine, adenosine, and adenosine deaminase were perifused through the adipocytes. Exogenous adenosine, 0.001-10.0 muM, had no discernible influence upon unstimulated lipolysis; but exogenous adenosine inhibited epinephrine-sensitive lipolysis in a concentration-dependent manner. Cells perifused with 0.3 muM epinephrine plus 0.001 muM adenosine did not show any impairment of the lipolytic response to 0.3 muM epinephrine alone. Adenosine, 0.01 muM, inhibited the response to epinephrine by 50%; response to 0.3 muM epinephrine plus 0.1 muM adenosine was similar to the basal rate. Perifusion with adenosine deaminase significantly increased basal lipolysis to 30% of the epinephrine response. Adenosine deaminase and epinephrine were synergistic in stimulating lipolysis to 180% of the response to epinephrine alone. Isolated fat cells were incubated for 30 min, and the cell-free used medium was perifused through fresh fat cells. Epinephrine in used medium was less effective in promoting lipolysis than epinephrine in fresh buffer. High-pressure liquid chromatography identified adenosine in the used medium. Bovine serum albumin possessed adenosine deaminase activity but accounted for negligible conversion of adenosine to inosine. Adenosine is shown to have a modulating effect upon basal and hormone-stimulated lipolysis in the perifusion system. Sufficient endogenous adenosine (<0.01 muM) is present to maximally affect basal lipolysis. Hormone-stimulated lipolysis, although inhibited somewhat by endogenous adenosine, requires the addition of exogenous adenosine for complete inhibition.

Adenosine

Inhibition of lipolysis in hamster adipocytes by the cation ionophor X537A.

The present study reports the effects of the lipophylic ionophore X537A on lipolysis and accumulation of cAMP in isolated hamster epidiymal adipocytes. X537A inhibited lipolysis activated with norepinephrine, isoproterenol, dibutyryl cAMP or theophylline but failed to influence basal lipolysis. The minimum effective concentration of X537A required to inhibit lipolysis was between 1 and 3 micrograms/ml; at a concentration of 10 micrograms/ml, X537A inhibited lipolysis by approximately 50%. The antilipolytic effect of X537A does not result from decreased formation of cAMP because the accumulation of cAMP in response to isoproterenol or theophylline was significantly potentiated in the presence of the ionophore. Most of the additional cAMP that accumulated in the presence of X537A was found to be intracellelular, the distribution of cAMP between cells and incubation medium not being influenced by X537A. Neither the basal activity of cAMP dependent protein kinase nor the activity in the presence of isoproterenol or theophylline was influenced by X537A. The effects of X537A on lipolysis and on accumulation of cAMP were found to persist in the absence of extracellular calcium, but adipocytes that were preincubated in a calcium free media containing 4.0 mM EGTA failed to respond to X537A with an increase in cAMP levels. It is concluded that X537A inhibits lipolysis by uncoupling cAMP accumulation from activation of triglyceride lipase by a mechanism unrelated to activation of protein kinase.

Adipose Tissue

Regulation of lipolysis and cyclic AMP synthesis through energy supply in isolated human fat cells.

The effects of glucose and of various inhibitors of glycolysis or of oxidative phosphorylation on stimulated lipolysis and on intracellular cyclic AMP and ATP levels were investigated in isolated human fat cells. The glycolysis inhibitors, NaF and monoiodoacetate, inhibited epinephrine or theophylline-stimulated lipolysis and parallely reduced the intracellular cyclic AMP and ATP levels; however, neither NaF nor monoidoacetate significantly affected dibutyryl cyclic AMP-induced lipolysis. Removal of glucose from the medium also reduced the rate of epinephrine-stimulated lipolysis and the intracellular cyclic AMP and ATP levels but failed to modify the lipolytic activity of dibutyryl cyclic AMP. The oxidative phosphorylation inhibitors, antimycin A and, under fixed conditions, 2,4-dinitrophenol also strongly decreased the adipocyte cyclic AMP and ATP levels but inhibited as well the rate of epinephrine- and of dibutyryl cyclic AMP-induced lipolysis. N-Ethylmaleimide, a mixed glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation inhibitor, not only reduced the intracellular cyclic AMP and ATP levels and epinephrine- or theophylline-induced lipolysis, but also that stimulated by dibutyryl cyclic AMP. When glycolysis was almost fully inhibited, human fat cells were insensitive to epinephrine but remained fully responsive to dibutyryl cyclic AMP. These results, showing a relationship between ATP availability, cyclic AMP synthesis and lipolysis, suggest a different ATP requirement for cyclic AMP synthesis and triacylglycerol lipase activation, a difference which could explain why ATP issued from glucose breakdown appears to be a determinant factor for cyclic AMP synthesis, but not for triacylglycerol lipase activation in human fat cells.

Adipose Tissue

Calcium antagonists and lipolysis in isolated rat epididymal adipocytes: effects of tetracaine, manganese, cobaltous and lanthanum ions and D600.

The present study reports the effects on lipolysis occurring in isolated rat epididymal adipocytes of several agents which have each been found to interfere with membrane calcium transport in a variety of tissues. As reported by other workers, the local tetracaine was a strong inhibitor of hormone accelerated but not of basal lipolysis. The bivalent cations Mn2+ and Co2+ were similarly found to inhibit lipolysis stimulated with either epinephrine, ACTH, theophylline or dibutyryl cyclic AMP, whereas basal lipolysis was not markedly altered. This effect of Mn2+ and Co2+ was not mimicked by either Sr2+, Ba2+, Mg2+ or Ca2+. Cyclic AMP levels in adipocytes stimulated with epinephrine or ACTH tended to be higher in the presence of Mn2+ and Co2+. It is concluded, therefore, that Mn2+ and Co2+ inhibit lipolysis by uncoupling cyclic AMP accumulation from activation of triglyceride lipase. In contrast to Mn2+ and Co2+, the calcium antagonists La3+ and D600 were without effect on lipolysis. The antilipolytic effect of tetracaine, Mn2+ and Co2+ was found to persist in the absence of extracellular calcium, suggesting therefore that the antilipolytic effect of these drugs is unrelated to inhibition of calcium influx into adipocytes. The possibility is discussed that lipolytic agents cause an intracellular redistribution of calcium ion and that local anesthetics, Mn2+ and Co2+ interfere with lipolysis by preventing this intracellular redistribution of calcium.

Adipose Tissue

The effect of pregnancy on the control of lipolysis in fat cells isolated from human adipose tissue.

1. Lipolysis has been estimated by measuring the release of glycerol in isolated adipose tissue cells obtained from women in early prognancy, late pregnancy and 1 - 3 days post partum and from non-pregnant women. 2. Adipocytes of women at the end of pregnancy exhibited higher rates of lipolysis in response to adrenaline (1.5 - 15 muM) plus phentolamine (13 muM) than those of non-pregnant women or those in early pregnancy. 3. Lipolysis in response to adrenaline plus phentolamine in fat cells from women 1 - 3 days post partum was reduced compared to that at the end of gestation but was enhanced relative to that in the non-pregnant or early pregnant state. 4. Basal lipolysis also tended to be greatest at term. 5. Under conditions where the production of cyclic AMP was not rate limiting for the stimulation of lipolysis, that is in the presence of dibutyryl cyclic AMP (1 mM) or adrenaline (15 muM) plus phentolamine (13 muM) plus caffeine (1 mM), the release of glycerol in cells from women at term and in the puerperium was greater than that in women in the non-pregnant or early pregnant state. 6. Cell levels of cyclic AMP rose after incubation with adrenaline (6 muM) plus phentolamine or adrenaline (15 muM) plus phentolamine plus caffeine (1 mM) but were similar in all four groups of women. 7. It is concluded that the observed enhancement of lipolysis demonstrated in fat cells from women at the end of pregnancy reflects an increase in hormone-sensitive lipase activity rather than a modification of hormone receptor site sensitivity or of the rates of synthesis or breakdown of cyclic AMP. 8. This increase in adipose tissue lipolysis at the end of gestation could contribute to the reported rise in plasma nonesterified fatty acids in the final weeks of pregnancy.

Adipose Tissue

Simulated hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome. Impaired insulin and epinephrine effects upon lipolysis in the isolated rat fat cell.

These investigations were designed to evaluate the effect of excess glucose and sodium chloride on lipolysis in the isolated adipocyte under normal and modelled pathological conditions simulating the hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome. Isolated rat fat cells were incubated in the presence of various combinations of sodium chloride, glucose, epinephrine, and insulin. Lipolysis was measured as glycerol and free fatty acid release, and total medium osmolarity as milliosmoles per liter by freezing point depression. Basal lipolysis was unaffected by changes in osmolarity with sodium chloride, but glucose and glucose plus sodium chloride increased basal glycerol release. Increasing osmolarity with sodium chloride diminished the lipolytic response to epinephrine. Increasing osmolarity with glucose augmented the lipolytic response to epinephrine up to a total medium osmolarity of 550 mosmol. Higher osmolarities produced with glucose suppressed the epinephrine-induced lipolytic response.When the hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome was simulated with 100 mM glucose and 50 mM sodium chloride (total osmolarity = 460 mosmol) the epinephrine-stimulated lipolysis dose-response curve in the isolated fat cell was shifted to the right. Furthermore, in the presence of 100 mM glucose + 50 mM sodium chloride, physiological concentrations of insulin were less effective in opposing epinephrine-stimulated lipolysis. In the presence of 50 mM glucose and 25 mM sodium chloride (total osmolarity = 370 mosmol) epinephrine-stimulated lipolysis measured as free fatty acid release was decreased by 50%. Under conditions simulating the hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome in the isolated rat adipocyte, altered lipolysis reflects impaired effectiveness of both insulin and epinephrine as antilipolytic and lipolytic hormones, respectively. Furthermore, the attenuated response to both hormones appears to be primarily a function of extracellular solute composition. The lack of ketosis is the result of diminished release of free fatty acids from peripheral adipose cells.

Adipose Tissue

Inhibition of lipolysis in hamster epididymal adipocytes by selective alpha-adrenergic agents. Evidence for cyclic AMP-dependent and independent mechanisms.

In this study the role of cyclic AMP in the antilpolytic effect of the alpha-adrenergic agents methoxamine and phenylephrine in hamster epididymal adipocytes was studied. Both methozamine and phenylephrine lowered the very high levels of cyclic AMP that were produced by high concentrations of isoproterenol (10 muM) or ACTH (100 MU/ml), and partially inhibited lipolysis. When lower concentrations of isoproterenol were used, the antilipolytic effect of phenylephrine and methoxamine was still evident. Under these conditions methoxamine produced a slight suppression of cyclic AMP levels while phenylephrine increased accumulation of cyclic AMP. It follows, therefore, that the inhibition of lipolysis by the alpha agents is most likely unrelated to changes in cyclic AMP levels; in contrast, phenylephrine promoted lipolysis and increased cyclic AMP levels. When the stimulus for lipolysis was provided by methylxanthines a different picture emerged. Methoxamine antagonized lipolysis and lowered cyclic AMP levels. In the presence of propranolol, phenylephrine lowered cyclic AMP levels and suppressed methylxanthine-accelerated lipolysis. It is suggested that when methy xanthines provide the stimulus for lipolysis the antilipolytic effect of methoxamine and phenylephrine (in the presence of propranolol) may be mediated by the suppression in cyclic AMP levels.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine

Effects of several preoperative medications on fat cell lipolysis, and activity of adipose tissue cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase.

Effects were examined of atropine, diazepam, pethidene, promethazine, scopolamine, omnopon and papaverine on basal and noradrenaline-stimulated lipolysis in rat isolated fat cells and on rat adipose tissue cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity. Papaverine at high concentration (1 mM) inhibited both basal and hormone-stimulated lipolysis, whereas diazepam enhanced basal lipolysis. At a 'clinical dose', omnopon increased both basal and noradrenaline-stimulated lipolysis. Adipose tissue cAMP phosphodiesterase activity was strongly inhibited by 1 mM diazepam, papaverine, promethazine and omnopon (280 microgram ml-1). Lack of enhancement of lipolysis by the established cAMP phosphodiesterase antagonist papaverine, is compatible with simultaneous inhibition also of adipose adenyl cyclase. Diazepam-stimulated lipolysis is compatible with its phosphodiesterase inhibitory activity. It is proposed that papaverine-containing omnopon may offer some survival advantages during surgical stress by facilitating a caloric supply.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases

Inhibition by acidosis of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate accumulation and lipolysis in isolated rat fat cells.

Lipolysis and cyclic AMP accumulation were studied in isolated rat fat cells at normal (7.4) and decreased (7.0, 6.6) pH. Acidosis inhibited lipolysis and cyclic AMP accumulation due to NA non-competetively. Maximal lipolysis (3 muM NA) was inhibited by 25% at pH 7.0 and by 61% at pH 6.6 Cyclic AMP accumulation 5 min after 3 muM NA was inhibited by 57% at pH 7.0 and by 83% at pH 6.6. Between 10 and 60 minutes of incubation NA-stimulated lipolysis was linear at pH 7.4, whereas a progressively increasing inhibition was seen at lower pH. The FFA production was inhibited to the same degree as glycerol production by acidosis. The fraction of FFA associated with the cells was the same at all pHs. Thus, we have no evidence that acidosis inhibits lipolysis via accumulation of FFA intracellularly. NA-induced accumulation of 3H-cAMP from 3H-ATP, endogenously formed by prelabelling the cells with 3H-adenine, was inhibited by acidosis both in the presence and absence of theophylline in the incubation medium (by 48 and 44% respectively at pH 7.0 and by 74 and 68% at pH 6.6). Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase in homogenates of fat cells was inhibited by decreasing the pH, whether measured at high or low substrate concentrations. Basal adenylyl cyclase activity in a cell membrane fraction from fat cells was affected to a minor degree, while NA-stimulated activity was inhibited by decreased pH. The response to 3 muM NA at pH 6.6 was inhibited by 43% relative to control. The results show that acidosis inhibits NA-induced cyclic AMP accumulation by interfering with the formation, rather than the inactivation of the nucleotide. Since NA-induced lipolysis is a cyclic AMP-mediated process it is suggested that at least part of the antilipolytic effect of acidosis is due to inhibition of cyclic AMP formation.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases

Cyclic AMP-dependent and independent inhibition of lipolysis by adenosine and decreased pH.

NA-stimulated lipolysis and cAMP formation in isolated rat fat cells is inhibited by acidosis. In the present report we have examined the quantitative relationship between lipolysis and cAMP formation at normal and reduced pH and the possible involvement of adenosine, an endogenous inhibitor of cAMP formation. Adenosine antagonized cAMP accumulation and to a considerably lower degree lipolysis, effects potentiated by acidosis. Theophylline, an antagonist of adenosine effects, stimulated lipolysis and cAMP-accumulation, and potentiated responses to NA. Adenosine deaminase (ADA) had theophylline-like effects. Acidosis inhibited lipolysis and cAMP accumulation induced by ADA and theophylline to a larger extent than those induced by NA. It is suggested that adenosine modulates fat cell cAMP production and may contribute to the antilipolytic effect of acidosis. There was a curvilinear relationship between cAMP elevation and glycerol production in fat cell suspensions, which was different at pH 7.4 and at pH 6.6. The amount of cAMP needed for half-maximal activation of lipolysis increased from 1.3 (pH 7.4) to 3.1 pMol X 10(-5) cells (pH 6.6). The maximal glycerol production was reduced from 1 300 to 900 nMol X 10(-5) cells. The antilipolytic effect of acidosis is apparently due partly to an inhibition of cAMP formation and partly to inhibition of subsequent step(s) in the activation sequence.

Acidosis

Effect of adenosine, adenosine analogues and drugs inhibiting adenosine inactivation on lipolysis in rat fat cells.

It has been suggested that adenosine may be a physiologically important modulator of lipolysis. In the present study it was found that adenosine inhibited lipolysis stimulated by low (0.03 micrometer) concentrations of noradrenaline (NA). Lipolysis stimulated by higher concentrations (0.3 and 3 micrometer) of NA was inhibited to a minor degree or not at all. Theophylline (1 micromete)-induced lipolysis was inhibited by adenosine (IC50 approximately 10 micrometer). Inhibition of theophylline-induced lipolysis was tested for several analogues of adenosine. Some N6-substituted adenosine analogues and 2-Cl-adenosine were more potent inhibitors. Adenine-nucleotides (ATP, ADP, AMP) were about equipotent with adenosine. Several adenosine analogues, including its breakdown products were considerably less potent or ineffective. None of the analogues tested inhibited the action of adenosine. Dipyridamol, dilazep and papaverine, which inhibit the uptake of adenosine into cells, caused only a slight enhancement of the antilipolytic effect of adenosine. None of the analogues inhibited the effect of adenosine. It is concluded that adenosine can inhibit lipolysis due to low, "physiological" concentrations of noradrenaline and of low concentration of theophylline via an action on a receptor structure on the cell surface which exhibits structural specificity.

Adenosine

Fish oil-induced yellow fat disease in rats. III. Lipolysis in affected adipose tissue.

Basal and hormone-stimulated lipolysis of adipose tissue was measured at successive stages during the development of fish oil-induced yellow fat disease in rats. Changes of lipolytic activity at an early stage of yellow fat disease were not seen. There was a significant increase of basal lipolysis and a decrease of stimulated lipolysis when many fat cells were affected (stage E). Since the increased basal lipolysis probably originates from degenerated fat cells, the mechanism of enzyme activation is not clear. The decreased stimulated lipolysis was proportional to the number of affected fat cells and resulted from membrane damage of these cells. Increased 5-nucleotidase activity, seen in affected fat cells, may be important, to this reduced stimulated lipolysis.

Adipose Tissue

Local regulation of lipolysis in adipose tissue by fatty acids, prostaglandins and adenosine.

From this review of the literature the following tentative conclusions may be drawn: 1) The relationship between cyclic AMP and lipolysis is not linear. In particular, only very small elevations of cyclic AMP appear to be necessary for essentially maximal lipolysis. One consequence of this is that some of the studies concerning feed-back regulation of cyclic AMP may not be relevant to our understanding of the regulation of lipolysis. 2) The only substances for which a firm role as feed-back regulators has been documented are free fatty acids. Their importance under in vivo conditions are, however, not settled. 3) The bulk of the present evidence fails to suggest a role for endogenous prostaglandins (and related compounds) as feed-back regulators of lipolysis. 4) There is considerable evidence that endogenous adenosine modulates lipolysis in vivo and in vitro. Adenosine does not appear to act as a feed-back regulator in the strict sense but the formation of adenosine may be enhanced under conditions of lipolysis because of simultaneously occurring breakdown of ATP.

Adenosine

Hormonal control of adipose-tissue lipolysis.

Adipose-tissue triacylglycerol is the major energy store in man. The physiological importance and biochemical mechanism of the hormonal control of lipolysis in white adipose tissue is reviewed. Rates of lipolysis and fatty acid release observed when adipose tissue is incubated in vitro are compared with rates of triacylglycerol turnover in man. It appears that enhanced rates of lipolysis in vivo, for example during fasting and exercise, may be a substantial fraction of the maximum obtainable by hormone stimulation in vitro. There is considerable species variation in the hormonal sensitivity of adipose tissue. Some hormones that stimulate lipolysis in vitro may not be significant lipolytic agents at physiological concentrations in vivo. In man and rat, the most important acutely acting lipolytic and anti-lipolytic hormones are catecholamines and insulin respectively. The sympathetic nervous system may play a role at least as important as circulating catecholamines in the mobilization of stored triacylglycerol. The effects of acute lipolytic hormones are modulated in the long term by corticosteroids and thyroid hormone. Stimulation of lipolysis is believed to be mediated by the increased intracellular cyclic AMP concentration that occurs after interaction of hormones with specific receptors in the plasma membrane. The properties of membrane receptors, adenylate cyclase, cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase, cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and triacylglycerol lipase, as studied in rat and human adipose tissue, are discussed. Several features of the action of lipolytic hormones in vitro are difficult to account for by the hypothesis that cyclic AMP is the only "second messenger" regulating lipase activity. These include anomalous effects of hormones at high concentrations and the possible existence of feedback inhibition limiting the accumulation of cyclic AMP and the stimulation of lipolysis. The mechanism of the anti-lipolytic action of insulin is at present unknown.

2',3'-Cyclic-Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases

Very low density lipoprotein. Fate of phospholipids, cholesterol, and apolipoprotein C during lipolysis in vitro.

In this study we have determined the fate of phospholipids, cholesterol, and apolipoprotein C during lipolysis of rat plasma very low density lipoprotein (rat VLDL). The experiment was carried out in vitro with lipoprotein lipase purified from bovine milk, VLDL labeled with [(14)C]palmitate, [(3)H]cholesterol, [(32)P]phospholipids, and (125)I-labeled apolipoprotein C and in plasma-devoid systems. Triglyceride hydrolysis ranged between 0 and 98.6%. [(32)P]Phospholipids, unesterified [(3)H]cholesterol, and (125)I-labeled apolipoprotein C were removed from the VLDL (d < 1.019 g/ml) during lipolysis. About one-third of the [(32)P]phosphatidylcholine was hydrolyzed to lysolecithin, and was transferred to the fraction d > 1.21 g/ml. The other two-thirds of the phospholipids were removed unhydrolyzed, mainly to the fraction d 1.04-1.21 g/ml. With the progression of the lipolysis, unesterified [(3)H]cholesterol was removed from VLDL at increasing rates, predominantly to the fraction d 1.04-1.21 g/ml. (125)I-Labeled apolipoprotein C removed from the VLDL partitioned between the fraction of d 1.04-1.21 g/ml and d > 1.21 g/ml. Negative-staining electron microscopy of the fraction d 1.04-1.21 g/ml (containing phospholipids, unesterified cholesterol, and apolipoprotein C) revealed many discoidal lipoproteins. [(3)H]Cholesteryl esters remained associated with the VLDL even when 70-80% of the triglycerides were hydrolyzed. These observations suggest that during in vitro lipolysis of VLDL, surface constituents leave the lipoprotein concomitantly with the hydrolysis of core triglycerides. The process of removal of surface constituents is independent of the presence of an acceptor lipoprotein and may occur in the form of a surface-fragment particle. -Eisenberg, S., and T. Olivecrona. Very low density lipoprotein. Fate of phospholipids, cholesterol, and apolipoprotein C during lipolysis in vitro.

Animals

Relationship between intracellular cyclic AMP and lipolysis in human adipose tissue.

Human subcutaneous adipose tissue has been incubated in vitro in the presence and absence of isoprenaline (ISNA). The tissue concentration of cyclic AMP (cAMP) and the release of glycerol into the incubation medium were measured after various incubation periods. In the presence of ISNA (6 X 10(-5) mol/l), the tissue concentration of cAMP reached a peak after around 10 min and then declined to a level significantly lower than that at the start of the incubation. In contrast, the ISNA-induced rate of lipolysis was a linear function of the incubation time. The addition of propranolol (13 mumol/l) at different times after ISNA did not influence the rate of lipolysis, although it resulted in a decrease in the tissue level of cAMP. There was a positive correlation between the maximal increase in tissue cAMP and the rate of lipolysis in adipose tissue exposed to ISNA, both in individual experiments and in a group of 23 persons. No correlation was found between the rate of lipolysis and the tissue level of cAMP in adipose tissue incubated under basal conditions. The findings are compatible with the theory that the beta-adrenergic-induced lipolysis by human adipose tissue is a function of the maximal rise in the concentration of tissue cAMP. It is concluded that this peak level of cAMP represents single compartment of the nucleotide.

Adipose Tissue

Uncoupling of lipolysis from cyclic AMP by procaine: a tool for studying the mechanism of action of antilipolytic agents.

The initial rate of net glycerol release in norepinephrine-stimulated adipose tissue fragments was inhibited (40-78%) by procaine-HCl (1-5mM), whereas basal (unstimulated) lipolysis was unaffected. A dose-related inhibition of norepinephrine-induced lipolysis by procaine-HCl (0.1-1 mM) also occurred in adipocytes. Procaine-induced antilipolysis was associated with an augmented rather than a reduced hormone-stimulated increment in intracellular cyclic AMP. The dissociation of lipolysis from cyclic AMP accumulation has been termed the uncoupling effect of procaine. This effect of procaine was employed to define the precise mechanism of action of the antilipolytic drug clofibrate (Atromid-S) which inhibits lipolysis by reducing cyclic AMP. A reduction in cyclic AMP by clofibrate was demonstrated in norepinephrine-stimulated cells exposed to procaine (uncoupled system). Thus, the inhibitory effect of clofibrate on cyclic AMP could not be attributed to accumulation of products of lipolysis. Because neither procaine-HCl nor clofibrate had any effect on the low Km 3':5'-cyclic-AMP phosphodiesterase (EC 3.1.4.17) activity in hormone stimulated cells, the clofibrate-induced reduction in cyclic AMP was attributed to its direct action on adipocyte adenylate cyclase.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases