Site differences in the basal metabolism of subcutaneous fat in obese women

The basal capacity of femoral and abdominal fat to hydrolyze and store acylglycerols was investigated in obese women before and during 1 week of fasting. Before fasting, the lipolytic activity was lower and the lipoprotein lipase activity higher in femoral than in abdominal fat. During fasting, femoral fat lipoprotein lipase activity decreased and lipolytic activity increased to levels similar to those in abdominal fat. Acylglycerol syntheses were similar in the two fat depots before fasting, but decreased to a lower level at the abdominal than at the femoral site during fasting. Fat cell size decreased in the abdominal but not in the femoral site during fasting. Thus, regional variations in storage and mobilization of fat were found both in the fed and fasted states.