title: Influence of lithium on cyclic AMP accumulation in isolated rat fat cells.
abstract: Lithium inhibits in vitro as well as in vivo several hormone-stimulated adenylate cyclases. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism by which lithium inhibits adenylate cyclase in vitro. It was found that lithium inhibited both the norepinephrine- and the glucagon-induced cAMP accumulation in rat fat cells at lithium concentrations above 10 mM. The basal cAMP content was unaffected even at 40 mM of lithium. The inhibitory action was time-dependent and reversible, indicating an intracellular site of action. Lithium inhibited both norepinephrine- and glucagon-stimulated cAMP accumulation in a mainly non-competitive way, but the inhibitory effect decreased with increasing hormone concentrations. In accordance, lithium and propranolol had a supraadditive effect on norepinephrine-induced cAMP accumulation. It is suggested that lithium affects both the hormone-receptor binding as well as the transfer of the hormonal stimulus by an intracellular site of action.
mesh_terms: D000067956:Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005934:Glucagon / Q000494:pharmacology; D008094:Lithium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000067956:Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D005934:Glucagon; D008094:Lithium; D011433:Propranolol; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D009638:Norepinephrine