Regional differences in triglyceride breakdown in human adipose tissue: Effects of catecholamines, insulin, and prostaglandin E2

doi:10.1016/0026-0495(91)90078-B

Metabolism

Volume 40, Issue 9, September 1991, Pages 990-996

https://doi.org/10.1016/0026-0495(91)90078-B Get rights and content

Abstract

Regional variation of adipose tissue triglyceride breakdown (lipolysis) has been suggested to play a role for the health consequences of some forms of obesity. Thus, in the present study we investigated the regulation of lipolysis in isolated adipocytes obtained from different fat depots in females. Intra-abdominal adipose tissue (omental) and subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue were obtained from the same individuals undergoing abdominal surgery (n = 9); in addition, adipocytes from the subcutaneous gluteal region (n = 12) and from mammary adipose tissue (n = 5) were investigated. The lipolytic/antilipolytic properties of epinephrine (EPI), insulin, clonidine, and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) were investigated. The most prominent observation was that EPI had none or only minor lipolytic effect in adipocytes from the subcutaneous regions, but significantly enhanced lipolysis by approximately 500% in omental adipocytes (P < .001). In the presence of the α₂-adrenergic antagonist, yohimbine, EPI had similar stimulatory effects (fourfold to fivefold) in all fat depots. The antilipolytic compounds, insulin and clonidine, had greatly reduced antilipolytic properties in omental adipocytes as compared with subcutaneous adipocytes (P < .01 and P < .05, respectively). On the other hand, PGE₂ had similar antilipolytic properties in adipocytes from the various depots. In conclusion, we found great regional variation in the regulation of lipolysis. Particularly, EPI was much more lipolytic in omental adipocytes than in subcutaneous adipocytes, mainly due to an enhanced functional α₂-receptor activity in subcutaneous adipocytes. These in vitro data suggest that free fatty acids (FFA) are more readily mobilized from omental adipose tissue than from subcutaneous adipose tissue.

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^☆: Supported by grants from NOVO, Nordic Insulin Foundation, the Danish Diabetic Association, P. Carl Petersens Fond, Aarhus University, and Danish Medical Research Council.

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Regional differences in triglyceride breakdown in human adipose tissue: Effects of catecholamines, insulin, and prostaglandin E2☆

Abstract

Metabolism

Mol Cell Endocrinol

J Lipid Res

Eur J Pharmacol

Metabolism

Metabolism

J Biol Chem

J Biol Chem

Abdominal adipose tissue distribution, obesity, and risk of cardiovaskular disease and death: 13 year follow up of participants in the study of men born in 1913

Br Med J

Distribution of adipose tissue and risk of cardiovascular disease and death: A 12 year follow up of participants in the population study of women in Gothenburg, Sweden

Br Med J

The associations between obesity, adipose tissue distribution and disease

Acta Med Scand

Biology of regional body fat distribution: Relationship to non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Diabetes Metab Rev

New insight into the anthropometric classification of fat distribution shown by computer tomography

Br Med J

Adiposity, fat distribution, and cardiovascular risk

Ann Intern Med

Regional differences in triglyceride breakdown in human adipose tissue: Effects of catecholamines, insulin, and prostaglandin E₂☆