Blood flow in human adipose tissue after infusion of (Gln4-neurotensin

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Abstract
(Gln4)-neurotensin, 18pmol±kg-1±min-1, was infused i. v. during 20 min in 10 healthy male volunteers. Adipose tissue blood flow was continuously monitored by measuring the disappearance rate of 99mTc-pertechnetate injected s. c. on the abdomen and thigh. Heart rate and blood pressure were measured and calf blood flow studied by venous occlusion plethysmography. Neurotensin-like immunoreactivity (NTLI) in serum was determined. Infusion of isotonic saline served as control. During intravenous infusion of (Gln4)-neurotensin the first order rate constants of 99mTc-pertechnetate from the abdomen decreased by 21.9±5.9% from a basal value of 8.3±0.5% min-1 (pp4)-neurotensin plasma neurotensin-like immunoreactivity (NTLI) increased successively. Ten minutes after starting the infusion the mean plasma NTLI level had increased from 20±5 pM to 302±31 pM; at 20 min it was 473±51 pM. These concentrations are within the range found after eating a fatty meal. The results indicate that neurotensin plays a physiological role in the regulation of human adipose tissue blood flow and may be of importance for the postprandial uptake of substrates in adipose tissue in certain regions. We suggest that neurotensin deserves consideration as an endocrine hormone affecting the regional deposition of fat postprandially.