Horm Metab Res 1974; 6(1): 30-36
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1093899
Originals

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Inhibitory Effects of Calcitonin on Lipolysis and 47Calcium Accumulation in Rat Adipose Tissue In Vivo

S.  Werner , H.  Löw
  • Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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Publication History

Publication Date:
07 January 2009 (online)

Abstract

In rat epididymal tissue in vitro, calcitonin had an anti-lipolytic effect, measured as a depressed glycerol release into the incubation medium. In particular basal lipolysis was affected, but the antilipolytic effect of calcitonin could also be demonstrated during slightly stimulated lipolysis with parathyroid hormone, noradrenaline or dibutyryl cyclic AMP. During marked and maximal stimulation of lipolysis no antilipolytic effect of calcitonin was noted.

The accumulation of calcium in the fat tissue, previously shown to increase with increasing lipolysis, was also depressed by calcitonin. This depression, in contrast to the antilipolytic effect of calcitonin, became more significant with increasing lipolysis.

The antilipolytic effect of calcitonin was maintained after adrenalectomy, while during in vivo glucocorticoid excess it was diminished, seemingly due to decreased tissue sensitivity. Calcitonin did not modify the highly significant decreased calcium accumulation in the tissue, seen after adrenalectomy, or the increased calcium accumulation noted after injections of high doses of cortisone acetate.

The results indicate that calcitonin may have a cyclic AMP-dependent effect on lipolysis, which is not primarily interference with the hormonal activation of adenylate cyclase activity as basal lipolysis is affected. The effect of calcitonin on calcium accumulation seems to be independent of the adenylate cyclase-cyclic AMP system as it is demonstrable during direct lipase activation by dibutyryl cyclic AMP.

The two noted effects of calcitonin are discussed with special reference to known effects of two other antilipolytic substances, insulin and nicotinic acid.

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