THE EFFECTS OF ANDROGENS ON THE REGULATION OF LIPOLYSIS IN ADIPOSE PRECURSOR CELLS

Adipose precursor cells from male rats were exposed in primary culture to testosterone (T) or dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and their effects on the regulation of lipolysis were studied. T, but not DHT, stimulated catecholamine-induced lipolysis in a dose-dependent manner, including physiological concentrations. The effect was equally pronounced with isoproterenol (a pure β-adrenergic agonist) and norepinephrine (a mixed α2 and β-adrenergic agonist). The higher lipolytic capacity of catecholamines on T-treated cells was parallelled by a similar increase in the number of β-adrenoceptors in the cells, without a change in the receptor affinity, suggesting that T induced new synthesis- or externalization of β-adrenoceptors. Both T and DHT stimulated forskolin-induced lipolysis, suggesting an androgen effect at the level of the catalytic subunit of adenylate cyclase. The pertussis toxin-stimulated lipolysis was not influenced by the presence of androgens in the culture medium, and no effect was seen on the antilipolytic effect of insulin. These effects did not disappear in the presence of an aromatase inhibitor, suggesting that the T effects were not mediated by conversion to estrogens. These cells showed specific saturable binding for androgens, with a Kd in the range of androgen concentrations shown to be active. In conclusion, androgens enhance the lipolytic capacity of these cells by increasing the apparent number of β-adrenoceptors (T only) and the activity of adenylate cyclase (both T and DHT). These changes are not mediated by conversion to estrogens. These effects probably occur via binding to specific androgen receptors. © 1990 by The Endocrine Society.