Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Paper
  • Published:

Systemic nicotine stimulates human adipose tissue lipolysis through local cholinergic and catecholaminergic receptors

International Journal of Obesity volume 25, pages 1225–1232 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the lipolytic effects of systemic nicotine are not only attributed to indirect adrenergic mechanisms, but also to a direct action of nicotine on fat cells.

DESIGN: The effect of a systemic nicotine infusion (0.5 µg/kg/min for 30 min) on lipolysis in subcutaneous adipose tissue was investigated in situ in 11 non-obese, non-smoking, healthy male subjects under placebo-controlled conditions.

MEASUREMENTS: By using microdialysis probes the glycerol levels (lipolysis index) and blood flow were monitored locally in subcutaneous adipose tissue.

RESULTS: Plasma nicotine levels peaked (7.2 ng/ml) at the end of the infusion. Nicotine induced a mean (±s.e.) percentage peak increase in adrenaline and noradrenaline plasma levels of 213±30% (P<0.01) and 118±5% (P<0.05), respectively. Nicotine increased venous plasma glycerol levels by 144±9% (P<0.001), arterialized plasma glycerol levels by 148±12% (P<0.001) and adipose glycerol levels by 148±16% (P<0.001), but did not alter blood flow. By inducing a local cholinoceptor blockade with mecamylamine (10−5 M) via the microdialysis system, the increase in adipose glycerol levels was inhibited by ∼45% (P=0.02). A corresponding local beta-adrenoceptor blockade with propranolol (10−4 M), inhibited the increase in adipose glycerol levels by ∼60% (P=0.02). Infusion of saline (ie placebo) had no effect on the parameters mentioned above.

CONCLUSION: Systemically administered nicotine induces lipolysis, in part by activating the classical adrenergic mechanism (mediated by a nicotine-induced release of catecholamines stimulating beta-adrenoceptors), and in part by directly activating a nicotinic cholinergic lipolytic receptor located in adipose tissue.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. McBride PE . The health concequences of smoking Med Clin N Am 1992 76: 333–353.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Frayn KN, Williams CM, Arner P . Are increased plasma non-esterified fatty acid concentrations a risk marker for coronary heart disease and other chronic diseases? Clin Sci 1996 90: 243–253.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Eliasson B, Smith U . Leptin levels in smokers and long-term users of nicotine gum Eur J Clin Invest 1999 29: 145–152.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Oeser A et al. Plasma leptin concentrations and lipid profiles during nicotine abstinence Am J Med Sci 1999 318: 152–157.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Lafontan M, Berlan M . Fat cell adrenergic receptors and the control of white and brown fat cell function J Lipid Res 1993 34: 1057–1092.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Cryer PE et al. Norepinephrine and epinephrine release and adrenergic mediation of smoking-associated hemodynamic and metabolic events New Engl J Med 1976 295: 573–577.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Hellerstein MK et al. Effects of cigarette smoking and its cessation on lipid metabolism and energy expenditure in heavy smokers J Clin Invest 1994 93: 265–272.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Andersson K, Eneroth P, Arner P . Changes in circulating lipid and carboxyhydrate metabolites following systemic nicotine treatment in healthy men Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1993 17: 675–680.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Andersson K, Arner P . Cholinoceptor-mediated effects on glycerol output from human adipose tissue using in situ microdialysis Br J Pharmac 1995 115: 1155–1162.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Arner P, Bülow J . Assessment of adipose tissue metabolism in man: comparison of Fick and microdialysis techniques Clin Sci 1993 85: 247–256.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Tossman U, Ungerstedt U . Microdialysis in the study of extracellular levels of amino acids in the rat brain Acta Physiol Scand 1986 128: 9–14.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Galitsky J, Lafontan M, Arner P . Role of vascular alpha-2 adrenoceptors in regulating lipid mobilization from human adipose tissue J Clin Invest 1993 91: 1997–2003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Felländer G, Linde B, Bolinder J . Evaluation of the microdialysis ethanol technique for monitoring of subcutaneous adipose tissue blood flow in humans Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1996 20: 220–226.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Curvall M et al. Stimulation and evaluation of nicotine intake during passive smoking: cotinine measurements in body fluids of nonsmokers given intravenous infusions of nicotine J Chromatogr 1982 232: 283–293.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Benowitz NL . Pharmacological aspects of cigarette smoking and nicotine addiction New Engl J Med 1988 319: 1318–1330.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Arner P, Kriegholm E, Engfeldt P . In vivo interactions between beta1- and beta2- adrenoceptors regulate catecholamine tachyphylaxia in human adipose tissue J Pharmac Exp Ther 1991 259: 317–322.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Leibel RL, Edens NK, Fried SK . Physiological basis for the control of body fat distribution in humans A Rev Nutr 1989 9: 417–443.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Maggs DG et al. Interstitial fluid concentrations of glycerol, glucose, and amino acids in human quadricep muscle and adipose tissue J Clin Invest 1995 96: 370–377.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Eliasson, B, Smith U, Lönnroth P . No acute effects of smoking and nicotine nasal spray on lipolysis measured by subcutaneous microdialysis Eur J Clin Invest 1997 27: 503–509.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Fredholm BB . Nervous control of circulation and metabolism involving adipose tissue. In: Cryer A, Vam RLR (eds). New perspectives in adipose tissue: structure, function and development Butterworths: Boston, MA 1985 45–64.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  21. Rosell S, Belfrage E . Blood circulation in adipose tissue Physiol Rev 1979 59: 1078–1104.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Dr Fredrik Kuylenstierna, Pharmacia AB, Sweden, is greatly acknowledged for the measurements of nicotine and cotinine levels. The excellent technical assistance of Britt Marie Leijonhufvud, Catharina Hertel and Elisabette Dugner is greatly appreciated. This study was supported by grants from the Swedish Medical Research Council, the Swedish Tobacco Group and Clas Groschinsky Foundation.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Medicine and Research Center, Huddinge Hospital, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Sweden

    K Andersson & P Arner

Authors
  1. K Andersson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P Arner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to P Arner.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Andersson, K., Arner, P. Systemic nicotine stimulates human adipose tissue lipolysis through local cholinergic and catecholaminergic receptors. Int J Obes 25, 1225–1232 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801654

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801654

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links