Abstract
Thyrotropin (TSH), Noradrenaline (NA), Adrenaline (A) and isoprenaline (ISNA) induced lipolysis in isolated subcutaneous adipocytes was investigated in vitro. Fat cells were obtained from 16 infants aging 2 weeks-2 months and 10 adults during inguinal hernia operations. Glycerol release was measured as an index of lipolysis. NA increased lipolysis by 80% and A by 100% over the basal values in the infant group and in the adult group 300% and 200% respectively. With the addition of the alpha-2-blocking agent Yohimbine the differences between the doseresponse curves of the infants and adults disappeared. The effect of the beta agonist ISNA was almost identical in infants and adults (600% stimulation, ED50 10-9 M). In the infant group TSH caused a 600% stimulation of lipolysis with ED50 5×10−4 IU/ml. The TSH induced lipolysis was inhibted by preincubation of the medium with TSH antibodies but not influenped by the presence of propranolol in the medium. In the adult group! TSH had no lipolytic effect below 1 unit/ml. With this concentration the mean increase was 80%. In conclusion, the lipolytic effect of catecholamines was poor during the first two months of age owing to an increased alpha-2-adrenoceptor mediated inhibition. TSH was during infancy a hormone with higher lipolytic capacity than catecholamines, the only hormones with pronounced lipolytic effect in adults. It is possible that TSH is of importance for the rise of lipolysis which is seen immediately after birth.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Marcus, C., Bolme, P., Karpe, B. et al. THYROTROPIN AND CATECHOLAMINE INDUCED LIPOLYSIS DURING THE FIRST MONTHS OF AGE. Pediatr Res 20, 1180 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198611000-00042
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198611000-00042