Pertussis toxin effects on adenylate cyclase activity, cyclic AMP accumulation and lipolysis in adipocytes from hypothyroid, euthyroid and hyperthyroid rats

Adipocytes from hypothyroid rats have a decreased responsiveness to agents that activate adenylate cyclase, whereas cells from hyperthyroid rats have an increased responsiveness as compared to the controls. This is reflected in cyclic AMP accumulation as well as lipolysis. Administration of pertussis toxin to rats or its in vitro addition to adipocytes increased basal lipolysis and cyclic AMP accumulation as well as the response to norepinephrine or forskolin. The effects of thyroid status was not abolished by toxin treatment. Pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP ribosylation of Ni was increased in adipocyte membranes from hypothyroid rats as compared to those from euthyroid rats. However, no change in sensitivity to N6-(phenylisopropyl)adenosine was observed. The data suggest that the amount of Ni might not be rate-limiting for the inhibitory action of adenosine. A consistent decrease in maximal lipolysis was observed in freshly isolated adipocytes from hypothyroid animals as compared to those from the controls. Such defective maximal lipolysis was not corrected by adenosine deaminase or in vivo administration of pertussis toxin. The relationship between cyclic AMP levels and lipolysis suggests that in fat cells from hypothyroid rats either the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase or the lipase activity itself may limit maximal lipolysis. There appears to be multiple effects of thyroid status on lipolysis involving factors other than those affecting adenylate cyclase activation.