title: Lipolytic effect of beta-endorphin in human fat cells.
abstract: Recently, a role of beta-Endorphin on peripheral tissue metabolism has been suggested. A lipolytic effect of beta-Endorphin has been observed both in vivo and in vitro in animals but, at present, there is no evidence for a similar effect in humans. In this study, we investigated the lipolytic effect of beta-Endorphin in isolated human adipocytes. beta-Endorphin induced a significant increase in glycerol release in isolated human fat cells. Naloxone was able to inhibit the beta-Endorphin-induced lipolysis. The opioid antagonist alone had no effect on basal lipolysis and on Epinephrine-stimulated lipolysis when administered together with this hormone. Our results suggest that beta-Endorphin may play a role on lipolysis also in human fat cells and that this effect may be mediated by a specific opiate receptor.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Semeiotica Medica, University of Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vettor
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pagano
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fabris
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Lombardi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Macor
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Federspil
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008066:Lipolysis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D009270:Naloxone; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D004837:Epinephrine