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Regional Differences in Adrenoreceptor Status of Adipose Tissue in Adults and Prepubertal Children^*

MICHAEL ROSENBAUM, ELIO PRESTA, JULES HIRSCH and RUDOLPH L. LEIBEL

Laboratory of Human Behavior and Metabolism, Rockefeller University New York, New York 10021

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Michael Rosenbaum, M.D., Laboratory of Human Behavior and Metabolism, Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, New York 10021.

The relative anatomical distribution of adipose tissue in central (abdominal) vs. peripheral (extremity) depots is highly correlated with the risk of adiposity-related morbidities, such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes mellitus. In adults, comparisons of the functional status of plasma membrane adrenergic receptors indicate that abdominal adipocytes are more responsive to the lipolytic action of β₁-adrenergic agonists, while gluteal adipocytes are more responsive to the antilipolytic action of ₂-adrenergic agonists. To determine whether such regional differences in adipocyte adrenoreceptor status are present before puberty, we obtained needle biopsy samples of abdominal and gluteal sc adipose tissue in the postabsorptive state from 13 prepubertal children and 47 adults of varying body compositions (obese vs. lean). Lipolysis rates were measured in the basal state and in the presence of 10^–7 M norepinephrine (a mixed - and β-adrenergic agonist) and 10^–7 M isoproterenol (a β-adrenergic agonist). In children, there were no significant regional differences in either the basal rate of lipolysis or the responses to adrenergic lipolytic and antilipolytic stimuli. In lean and obese adults, gluteal sc adipose tissue was strikingly more responsive to antilipolytic -adrenergic stimulation (P < 0.0001) and less responsive to lipolytic β-adrenergic stimuli (P < 0.005) compared to abdominal tissue. Abdominal sc adipocytes from children had a significantly lower rate of basal lipolysis (P < 0.01) and were more responsive to ₂-adrenergic (antilipolytic) stimuli (P < 0.05) than abdominal adipocytes in adults. These results suggest that peripubertal endocrine changes may mediate the striking regional differences in adrenoreceptor status of adult adipose tissue, and that a decrease in the preponderance of ₂-receptors (antilipolytic) in abdominal adipose tissue may account in part for the relative loss of central vs. peripheral fat that occurs during puberty.

^* This work was supported in part by a grant from Eli Lilly Co. (Indianapolis, IN), NIH Grant DK-30583, NIH Grant RR-00102 (Clinical Research Center, Rockefeller University Hospital), NIH Grant RR-00047 (Pediatric Clinical Research Center, New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center), and the S. Z. Levine Fellowship Fund.

Amparo Rugarcia Clinical Scholar.

Deceased.

Established Investigator of the American Heart Association.

Received January 7, 1991.

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