Inhibition of lipolysis in bovine adipose tissue by butyrate and β-hydroxybutyrate

Abstract

In a previous paper it was shown that butyrate and DL-β-hydroxybutyrate, at a concentration of 10 mM, inhibit lipolysis in bovine adipose tissue in vitro. This inhibition was observed for basal lipolysis as well as for lipolysis stimulated by noradrenalin. Acetate, propionate and acetoacetate were shown to have no effect on these processes. In this paper it will be shown that the inhibition of lipolysis by β-hydroxybutyrate, contrary to the effect of butyrate, may be important in dairy cows in vivo. Both optical isomers of the ketone body exhibit the inhibitory effect. It is concluded that the inhibition of lipolysis of β-hydroxybutyrate occurs through an inhibitory effect on the formation of CAMP* in the fat cell.