The existence and relative importance of Bg-adrenoceptors in man is still controversial. The aim of the present study was 1) to find further evidence for the existence of functional beta(3)-adrenoceptors in human fat, and 2) to investigate factors that may influence this beta(3)-adrenoceptor function. Fifty individuals were examined. Lipolysis mediated by the selective beta(3)-adrenoceptor agonist CGP 12177 in omental fat cells correlated with the response in subcutaneous fat cells. However, lipolysis was more pronounced in omental as compared to subcutaneous adipocytes, the intrinsic activity for CGP 12177 was 41% and 33%, respectively, while dobutamine, terbutaline and norepinephrine were full agonists. Both the lipolytic response and the sensitivity to CGP 12177 correlated with the effects of norepinephrlne in the omental fat cells (r(2)= 0.68 and 0.50, respectively, p=0.0001). The beta(3)-adrenoceptor mediated lipolytic response did also correlate with the responses induced by beta(1)- and beta(2)-agonists and by postreceptor acting agents. The antagonistic properties (pA(2)) of the beta-adrenoceptor subtypes were also investigated. The pA2 for the selective beta(1)- and beta(2)-adrenoceptor antagonists versus CGP 12177-induced lipolysis were 2 to 3 log units lower than those for the beta(1)-antagonist versus dobutamine or for the beta(2)-antagonist versus terbutaline. Furthermore, bupranolol had a significantly better antagonistic effect (pA(2) 7.17, p<0.001) on the CGP 12177-induced lipolysis than had the beta(1)- and beta(2)-adrenoceptor antagonists (PA(2) 636 and 6.05, respectively). These data clearly support the existence of a third human beta-adrenoceptor. Several factors may contribute to the contradictory beta(3)-adrenoceptor results in man. The sensitivity of the different lipolytic systems vary considerably. Omental fat cells are preferable to subcutaneous cells for beta(3)-adrenoceptor studies in man. The beta(3)-responses are more attenuated in isolated fat cell preparations than in tissue fragments. Furthermore, as the beta(3)-adrenoceptor activity correlates to the norepinephrine activity, more pronounced effects will be expected in catecholamine sensitive subjects. At present, the number of tools available for beta(3)-adrenoceptor studies are limited, and the receptor is hard to study, why it is essential to perform beta(3)-adrenoceptor studies under optimal conditions in order to obtain conclusive effects.
