Adenosine, thyroid status and regulation of lipolysis

Adipocytes from hypothyroid rats do not respond to adrenaline with increased glycerol release. Adenosine deaminase largely restores lipolytic sensitivity. This effect is reversed by 2-deoxycoformycin, an inhibitor of the enzyme, and by N6-(phenylisopropyl)adenosine, which is not deaminated. Lipolytic response of normal cells to adrenaline is only 50% inhibited by phenylisopropyladenosine, whereas in cells from hypothyroid rats blockage is total. Inhibition of 50% was seen at 100 and 1 nM concentrations respectively. Insensitivity to adrenaline of hypothyroid-rat adipocytes can, at least partly, be explained by increased sensitivity to adenosine.