Selective modification of insulin action in adipose tissue by hyperthyroidism

Adipose-tissue lipolysis (assessed from glycerol release) and glucose uptake were examined in parametrial and mesenteric adipocytes prepared from control or hyperthyroid rats in relation to changes in insulin sensitivity. Basal rates of lipolysis did not differ significantly between adipose-tissue depots. Lipolysis was maximally stimulated by noradrenaline at 1 mu M, half-maximal anti-lipolytic effects of insulin were observed at approximately 11 mu U/ml insulin, and half-maximal stimulation of glucose uptake was observed at approximately 16 mu U/ml insulin in adipocytes from both depots. Wortmannin caused a dose-dependent inhibition of the anti-lipolytic effect of insulin (150 mu U/ml) on noradrenaline-stimulated lipolysis. Half-maximal effects of wortmannin were observed at 20-40 nM. The p70(S6K) inhibitor rapamycin and the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inhibitor PD098059 had no effects on noradrenaline-stimulated lipolysis. Hyperthyroidism increased basal rates of lipolysis and the maximal response of lipolysis to noradrenaline stimulation (3.1-fold, P<0.001 and 2.1-fold, P<0.05 respectively) in parametrial adipocytes. Hyperthyroidism markedly blunted the sensitivity of noradrenaline-stimulated lipolysis to half-maximal suppression by insulin in both parametrial and mesenteric adipocyte depots, and noradrenaline-stimulated lipolysis at a maximal insulin concentration remained significantly higher in adipocytes prepared from hyperthyroid rats compared with controls. Hyperthyroidism had no effect on basal and little effect on insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. Tri-iodothyronine administered at a low dose selectively influenced the anti-lipolytic action of insulin in parametrial adipocytes, and led to significantly less marked elevation in plasma non-esterified fatty acid concentrations in vivo. The results demonstrate a selective effect of hyperthyroidism to impair insulin's anti-lipolytic action, and are consistent with the operation of different downstream signalling mechanisms for the effects of insulin on adipocyte glucose transport and lipolysis.