Influence of prostaglandin E1 in the hormonal control of lipolysis in birds

Abstract

We have studied lipolysis in chicken adipose tissue in vitro, and the effects of glu­ cagon and prostaglandin E> on the production of non-esterified fatty acids and glycerol. Male birds 25 to 36 days old were used and the adipose tissue pieces were incubated at 40° C. Lipolysis was found to be lineal during the three hours incubations at 40° C.

Glucagon stimulated lipolysis at concentrations from 1 to lOOng/ml. No effect was observed by the addition of prostaglandin Et at concentrations from 0.1 to 10 ng/ml. The large stimulatory effect on lipolysis produced by glucagon (10 ng/ml) was blocked by the addition of 10 ng/ml of prostaglandin Ej and this antagonism is statistically significant (P < 0.001).