Subcutaneous adipose tissue metabolism at menopause:: Importance of body fatness and regional fat distribution

The aim of this study was to examine the contribution of menopause per se on sc adipose tissue (AT) metabolism in 16 women classified on the basis of their menopausal status: 8 postmenopausal (mean +/- SE age, 57 +/- 6 yr) vs. 8 premenopausal individuals (37 +/- 5 yr). These 2 groups were matched for sc abdominal adipose cell size (within 0.02 mu g lipid/cell) and visceral AT accumulation (within 15 cm(2)), measured by computed tomography. Fasting plasma glucose and insulin levels as well as their responses to an oral glucose load were similar regardless of the women's hormonal status. Subcutaneous abdominal and femoral AT lipoprotein lipase activities as well as fat cell lipolysis were determined in both groups. Epinephrine induced antilipolysis at low concentrations and lipolysis at higher doses in both adipose sites and groups. The maximal lipolytic response to epinephrine or to isoproterenol (beta-adrenergic agonist) as well as the maximal antilipolytic effect of either the catecholamine or UK-14304 (alpha(2)-adrenergic agonist) assessed in sc adipocytes were similar in pre- and postmenopausal women. In addition, neither the beta- nor the alpha(2)-adrenoceptor sensitivity of sc adipose cells differed according to subjects' age. Finally, maximal lipolysis promoted by postadrenoceptor agents and AT-lipoprotein lipase activity did not vary among adipose regions or between groups. Taken together, these results suggest that menopause per se does not influence sc AT metabolism once the variation related to adipose cell size and total body fatness is taken into account.