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Lipolytic and nutritive blood flow response to β-adrenoceptor stimulation in situ in subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue in obese men

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: β-Adrenoceptor-mediated whole-body lipolysis is impaired in obesity. This study investigated whether local adipocyte β-adrenergic sensitivity and changes in nutritive blood flow in subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue contribute to this impaired response.

METHODS: Three microdialysis probes were placed in the subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue of eight obese and nine lean men. Each probe was perfused with either 0.1, 1 and 10 μM isoprenaline; 1, 10 and 100 μM dobutamine or 1, 10 and 100 μM salbutamol, each dose for 45 min.

RESULTS: At baseline, interstitial glycerol concentrations and ethanol out/in ratios were comparable between groups. During nonselective β-, β1- and β2-adrenergic stimulation, interstitial glycerol concentrations increased and ethanol out/in ratios decreased similarly in obese and lean men.

CONCLUSION: The lipolytic and nutritive blood flow response to β1- β2- and nonselective β-adrenergic stimulation in situ is comparable in lean and obese male subjects. The present data suggest that a blunted β-adrenergic sensitivity of the fat cell and an impaired local nutritive blood flow response do not contribute to the previously reported diminished whole-body β-adrenoceptor-mediated lipolytic response in obese males.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Jos Stegen for his support during the analysis of dialysate samples.

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Correspondence to E E Blaak.

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Schiffelers, S., Akkermans, J., Saris, W. et al. Lipolytic and nutritive blood flow response to β-adrenoceptor stimulation in situ in subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue in obese men. Int J Obes 27, 227–231 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.802230

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