Hepatic Sodium-Potassium-Dependent ATPase in Obesity

Abstract

IN a study by De Luise, Blackburn, and Flier,¹ ouabain binding by sodium pumping units (sodium-potassium-ATPase) in red cells from obese subjects was shown to be significantly lower than in red cells from subjects with normal weights. This finding suggested that obese persons might be metabolically "more efficient" than lean ones. A similar reduction in the level of the sodium-pumping enzyme units has been reported in liver and muscle from obese (ob/ob) mice^{2 , 3} in which there is evidence of reduced basal metabolic expenditure⁴ and a marked sensitivity to cold.^{4 , 5} However, neither of these latter observations has been made in obese . . .