Lipolytic Action of Corticotropin on Rat Adipose Tissue In Vitro12

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Incubation of corticotropin with rat adipose tissue in a rat plasma medium resulted in an increase in the concentration of nonesterified fatty acids in both the tissue and the incubating medium. The effect was inhibited during anaerobiosis. Corticotropin A and various fractions in the purification of B-corticotropin as well as a. product of pepsin digestion of j3-corticotropin with high adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) activity all had potent lipolytic activity. When ACTH activity was destroyed by digestion with chymotrypsin, by boiling in NaOH or oxidation by hydrogen peroxide, lipolytic activity was also lost. In the latter case both ACTH and lipolytic activity could be restored by reduction with cysteine. Compared to ACTH, growth hormone and thyroid stimulating hormone had low lipolytic activity. One sample of bovine and one of human growth hormone were inactive at 1.0 mg/ml. Another bovine growth hormone was active at 100-200 fxg/ml and one sample of thyroid stimulating hormone was active at 500 fig/ml. Prolactin, Pitressin, Pitocin, triiodothyronine, hydrocortisone and serotonin were inactive.