Triglyceride Hydrolysis and Calcium Accumulation in the Rat Epididymal Fat Pad Exposed in Vitro to Norepinephrine and Pancreatic Lipase

Abstract

The influence of norepinephrine and commercial pancreatic lipase on epididymal fat pads was compared in vitro. Norepinephrine caused an increase in release of free fatty acids (FFA), approximately linear with time. A moderate accumulation of calcium occurred in the pads. The calcium/FFA ratio was stable (0.08). With pancreatic lipase the net production of FFA reached much higher values, rose with time, and was independent of the presence of albumin in the medium. The accumulation of calcium was significantly higher with a stable calcium/FFA ratio of 0.03.

Key-words:

• Adipose tissue
• fatty acids
• glycerol
• lipase
• norepinephrine