Factors Modifying the Effect of Prostaglandin E₁ on Lipolysis in Adipose Tissue

Abstract

The antilipolytic property of prostaglandins E (PGE) is well known (1). The mechanism behind this effect and its physiological role are not yet clear. Prostaglandins have been extracted from adipose tissue as well as from other tissues (2,3). Catecholamines and nerve stimulation have been shown to provoke secretion of prostaglandins, e.g., from rat epididymal fat pad in vitro (4). Most of the observations about the activity of prostaglandins in adipose tissue in vitro have been made on rats (1,2) and only a few in human tissue (5), with similar results. Systematic studies on the effect of PGE₁, on lipolysis with regard to factors such as species, age, nutritional state and hormonal balance are lacking. A condition known to abolish the antilipolytic effect of PGE₁ in rat is the fasting state (6,7). The purpose of this study was to explore species differences of PGE₁ effects with reference to factors modifying lipolysis.

Supported by the Fonds National Suisse de la Recherche.