beta-lipotropin increases ketone body plasma concentration in rabbits

beta-lipotropin stimulates lipolysis in the rabbit in a dose dependent manner. Besides glycerol and free fatty acid release a significant increase of betahydroxybutyrate as well as of acetoacetate was observed while pyruvate decreased significantly. Glucose and lactate levels remained unchanged. Our data suggest that lipolysis induced by beta-LPH and its effect on ketogenesis is more important than the actual plasma concentration of insulin.