Vol. 301, Issue 1, 229-233, April 2002

In Vivo ₁-Adrenergic Lipolytic Activity in Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue of Obese Subjects

M. Flechtner-Mors, C. P. Jenkinson, A. Alt, G. Adler and H. H. Ditschuneit

Department of Internal Medicine (M.F., G.A., H.H.D.) and Department of Forensic Medicine (A.A.), University of Ulm, Germany; and University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (C.P.J.), San Antonio, Texas

The role of ₁-adrenoceptors in lipid mobilization and blood flow was investigated in situ using microdialysis of subcutaneous adipose tissue in severely obese subjects. The lipolysis rate was assessed by determination of interstitial glycerol concentration. The ₁-adrenoceptor agonist norfenefrine caused an increase in glycerol level in adipose tissue that was similar to that observed with the physiologic _1,2-₁-adrenoceptor agonist norepinephrine, whereas the ₁-adrenoceptor antagonist urapidil showed no effect on basal lipolysis rate. However, the enhanced glycerol concentration due to norfenefrine and norepinephrine was suppressed in the presence of urapidil. The -adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol showed no effect on norfenefrine-stimulated glycerol outflow. Blood flow was assessed using the ethanol escape technique. Perfusion with norfenefrine decreased blood flow, whereas urapidil enhanced blood flow significantly. Despite the increase in blood flow, the basal interstitial glycerol concentration remained unchanged. Although norfenefrine at high concentrations could inhibit the urapidil-induced increase in blood flow, the norfenefrine-induced glycerol output was not affected. These results demonstrate that ₁-adrenoceptors are involved in regulation of lipolysis rate and microcirculation of adipose tissue. However, the observed changes in local blood flow were not related to glycerol output.