Chronic treatment with BRL 35135 potentiates the action of insulin on lipid metabolism

The effects of a beta(3)-adrenoceptor agonist on insulin-induced changes in lipid metabolism were studied in obese male Zucker (fa/fa) rats during euglycaemic clamp. Rats were treated with BRL 35135 (R*,R*-(+/-)-methyl-4-[2-[2-hydroxy-2-(3-chlorophenyl)-ethyl-amino]-propyl]-phenoxyacetate hydrobromide) (0.5 mg/kg per day in drinking water) for three weeks before an euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp was performed. Insulin infusion lowered serum non-esterified fatty acids and plasma glycerol more efficiently in BRL 35135-treated than in control rats although plasma insulin remained significantly lower in the BRL 35135-treated than in the control rats during the clamp. In conclusion, chronic treatment with BRL 35135 potentiates the effect of insulin on lipid metabolism. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.