[Effects of repeated injections of epinephrine on lipolysis in rats]

The effects of repeated injections of epinephrine on lipolysis in rats were investigated in vivo and in vitro. By daily subcutaneous injections of epinephrine (100 micrograms/kg) for 20 days, the weight of epididymal adipose pads were significantly decreased. By repeated injections of epinephrine for 20 days, the extent of increase in plasma nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels after epinephrine injection became smaller, and the amount of epinephrine-induced NEFA and cyclic AMP release from epididymal adipose tissue were decreased. These results suggested that the lipolytic response to epinephrine in rats was decreased by repeated injections of epinephrine.