Effect of Endurance Training on Adrenergic Control of Lipolysis in Adipose Tissue of Obese Women

Abstract

The effect of a 12-wk training program on sc abdominal adipose tissue (SCAAT) was studied in 11 obese women. Before and after the training, biopsies of SCAAT were performed for mRNA levels determination. Using the microdialysis method, involvement of α₂- and β-adrenergic receptor (ARs) in the control of lipolysis in SCAAT was studied using local perfusion of epinephrine alone or supplemented with phentolamine, an α₂-AR antagonist. In addition, the variation in dialysate glycerol concentrations during exercise (50% peak oxygen consumption at 40 min) in a probe perfused with Ringer’s solution was compared with that obtained in a probe perfused with Ringer’s solution plus phentolamine. Training did not promote changes in the expression of key genes of the lipolytic pathway. The epinephrine-induced rise in the dialysate glycerol concentration was identical before and after training and was similarly potentiated by phentolamine. During exercise, the potentiating effect of phentolamine on the glycerol response was apparent before, but not after, training. The exercise-induced increase in plasma norepinephrine was lower after training (P = 0.04). In conclusion, training did not modify either the expression of genes involved in the control of lipolysis or α₂- and β-ARs in situ sensitivity to epinephrine in SCAAT. Training reduced the antilipolytic action of catecholamines mediated by α₂-ARs during exercise, probably due to a reduction of exercise-induced catecholamine increase.