FACTORS AFFECTING THE IN VITRO PRODUCTION OF NON-ESTERIFIED FATTY ACID FROM ADIPOSE TISSUE

Abstract

The incubation of rat adipose tissue (epidymal fat) in the presence of growth hormone, ACTH, or epinephrine led to an increased production of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA). The increased NEFA production induced by maximal concentration of the hormones was inhibited if insulin was also present in the medium but unaffected by the addition of glucose at a concentration of 300 mg%. Lower concentrations of growth hormone, however, were counteracted by this concentration of glucose.Adipose tissue from 72-hour fasted rats also exhibited increased NEFA production. Unlike the hormonally induced NEFA increase, the increase NEFA production by tissue from fasted animals was unaffected by insulin in the medium but was inhibited by the addition of glucose.