Regulation of β1- and β3-adrenergic agonist-stimulated lipolytic response in hyperthyroid and hypothyroid rat white adipocytes

Abstract

1. This study examined the effects of thyroid status on the lipolytic responses of rat white adipocytes to β-adrenoceptor (β-AR) stimulation. The β1- and β3-AR mRNAs and proteins were measured by Northern and saturation analyses, respectively. Glycerol production and adenyl cyclase (AC) activity induced by various non-selective and selective β1/β3-AR agonists and drugs which act distal to the receptor in the signalling cascade were measured in cells from untreated, triiodothyronine (T3)-treated and thyroidectomized rats. 2. The β3-AR density was enhanced (72%) by T3-treatment and reduced (50%) by introduction of a hypothyroid state while β3-AR number remained unaffected. The β1- and β3-AR density was correlated with the specific mRNA level in all thyroid status. 3. The lipolytic responses to isoprenaline, noradrenaline (β1/β3/β3-AR agonists) and BRL 37344 (β3-AR agonist) were potentiated by 48, 58 and 48%, respectively in hyperthyroidism and reduced by about 80% in hypothyroidism. 4. T3-treatment increased the maximal lipolytic response to the partial β3-AR (CGP 12177) and β1-AR (xamoterol) agonists by 234 and 260%, respectively, increasing their efficacy (intrinsic activity: 0.95 versus 0.43 and 1.02 versus 0.42). The maximal AC response to these agonists was increased by 84 and 58%, respectively, without changing their efficacy. 5. In the hypothyroid state, the maximal lipolytic and AC responses were decreased with CGP (0.17 ± 0.03 versus 0.41 ± 0.08 μmol glycerol/106 adipocytes; 0.048 ± 0.005 versus 0.114 ± 0.006 pmol cyclic AMP min-1 mg-1) but not changed with xamoterol. 6. The changes in lipolytic responses to postreceptor-acting agents (forskolin, enprofylline and dibutenyl cyclic AMP, (Bu)2cAMP) suggest the modifications on receptor coupling and phosphodiesterase levels in both thyroid states. 7. Thyroid status affects lipolysis by modifying β3-AR density and postreceptor events without changes in the β1-AR functionality.