[Obesity and adipose tissue. 2. Hormonal regulation of adipose tissue metabolism]

The effects of hormones on human adipose tissue are reviewed with respect to the pathogenesis, prevention and therapy of obesity. Insulin. The insulin-resistance in the obese is associated with a decrease of the number of insulin receptor sites, which is likely to be secondary to increased insulin levels. Catecholamines. Human adipose tissue contains alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors. Alterations in the relation of alpha- and beta-adrenergic responsiveness may be important in the pathogenesis of regional forms of obesity. Gastrointestinal hormones. As opposed to adipose tissue of other species lipolytic effects of gastrointestinal hormones were as yet not clearly demonstrated in human fat cells. Prostaglandins were implicated in the pathogenesis of metabolic obesity. However, the effects of these C-20 fatty acids on human adipose tissue remain to be elucidated. Parathyroid hormone has been shown to possess lipolytic activity in vitro. This property may be important under physiological conditions too. Triglyceride storage diseases and lipomatoses are discussed as models for studying impaired hormonal responsiveness in human adipose tissue.