Effects of morning rise in cortisol concentration on regulation of lipolysis in subcutaneous adipose tissue
Abstract
Cortisol has a well-defined circadian rhythm. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of the morning rise in cortisol concentration on lipolysis in adipose tissue. Ten healthy subjects were studied on two occasions, and six of these were studied on three occasions. During the first two occasions, either a control or cortisol suppression study was performed by using metyrapone, and on the third occasion exogenous cortisol replacement was given in addition to metyrapone. Lipolysis in the subcutaneous adipose tissue of the anterior abdominal wall was studied by measurement of arteriovenous differences. Reduction in the early morning rise in cortisol led to significantly decreased venoarterialized differences for nonesterified fatty acids (P < 0.05) and glycerol (P < 0.01), attributable in part to decreased hormone-sensitive lipase (EC 3.1.1.3) action (P < 0.05) in adipose tissue. At the same time the arterialized plasma triacylglycerol concentration increased (P < 0.005) with a significant reduction in the adipose lipoprotein lipase (EC 3.1.1.34) rate of action (P < 0.05). In the replacement study, values were identical to those of the control study, showing that metyrapone had no nonspecific effects on lipolysis. We conclude that the morning rise in plasma cortisol concentration plays an important role in the regulation of lipolysis in adipose tissue in normal healthy adults.
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Metyrapone does not alter lipolysis independently of its effects on cortisol.
“However, metyrapone does not alter lipolysis independently of its effects on cortisol,10 while cortisol accumulates slowly in adipose tissue, meaning that a longer duration would be more likely to identify effects on lipolysis.22”
From Acute physiological effects of glucocorticoids on fuel metabolism in humans are permissive but not direct (2017) · cites this paper as [10]
Two studies have examined the effect of physiological cortisol concentrations on in vivo lipolysis and had conflicting results in the fasted state.
“Two studies have examined the effect of physiological cortisol concentrations on in vivo lipolysis and had conflicting results in the fasted state;1, 10”
From Acute physiological effects of glucocorticoids on fuel metabolism in humans are permissive but not direct (2017) · cites this paper as [10]
Neither of the two studies of physiological cortisol concentrations on in vivo lipolysis used a pancreatic clamp to control counter-regulatory hormones.
“however, neither study used a pancreatic clamp to control counter‐regulatory hormones.”
From Acute physiological effects of glucocorticoids on fuel metabolism in humans are permissive but not direct (2017) · cites this paper as [10]
The physiological rise in these hormones may be critical for the glucocorticoid-dependent diurnal variation in lipolysis.
“In addition, we clamped several other hormones to prevent confounding effects, and the physiological rise in these hormones may be critical for the glucocorticoid‐dependent diurnal variation in lipolysis.10”
From Acute physiological effects of glucocorticoids on fuel metabolism in humans are permissive but not direct (2017) · cites this paper as [10]
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Denton, N. (2021) · doi:10.1093/med/9780198865278.003.0007
- Authors
- Samra, J. S., Clark, M. L., Humphreys, S. M., Macdonald, I. A., Matthews, D. R., & Frayn, K. N.
- Affiliations
- John Radcliffe Hospital (GB)
- Venue
- American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism
- Publisher
- American Physiological Society
- Published
- 1996-12-01
- Volume
- 271
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- E996-E1002
- ISSN
- 0193-1849 (ISSN-L)
- 1522-1555
- OpenAlex
- W1849400229
- Cited by
- 40
- References
- 16
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 1 · 2017: 4 · 2015: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 1.05
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Wellcome Trust
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biochemistry › Lipid metabolism and biosynthesis
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Lipid metabolism and disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
- Keywords
- cortisol, circadian rhythm, lipolysis, subcutaneous adipose tissue, metyrapone, hormone-sensitive lipase, lipoprotein lipase, free fatty acids, glycerol, triglycerides, arteriovenous differences, cortisol replacement
- MeSH terms
- Adipose Tissue, Adult, Circadian Rhythm, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Lipolysis, Male, Middle Aged
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