Lipoprotein lipases and stress hormones: studies with glucocorticoids and cholera toxin

The intravenous injection of cholera toxin in rats 17 h prior to experimentation results in increased levels of insulin and corticosterone in the blood. This is accompanied by a rise in lipoprotein lipase activity in muscle and a decrease in adipose tissue. Pre- and postheparin blood levels of the enzyme are increased, representing the higher overall muscle activity. Hepatic lipase is decreased by cholera toxin treatment. These enzyme changes are accompanied by increased levels of non-esterified fatty acids, ketone bodies and unesterified cholesterol in the blood, whereas triacylglycerol levels are lowered. The lipoprotein triacylglycerol secretion is not affected by cholera toxin, suggesting increased triacylglycerol removal from the blood. On the other hand the unesterified cholesterol removal may be decreased due to the decreased hepatic lipase activity. Administration of excess glucocorticoid 2 days prior to blood and tissue sampling also resulted in a rise in lipoprotein lipase, a decrease in hepatic lipase activity and an increase of non-esterified fatty acids. In contrast to the effect of cholera toxin, the triacylglycerol levels were increased. Adrenalectomy, whether by inhibition of 11-beta-steroid hydroxylase or by surgical intervention, did not abolish the choleratoxin effects. It is concluded that corticosterone increase is not essential to the cholera toxin effects. Corticosterone itself probably causes an increase of cyclic AMP and/or Ca2+ levels, as is discussed.