Abstract
Adipose tissue plays an important role in energy homeostasis; however, there is only
little knowledge about its metabolic activity during critical illness or sepsis. We
assessed adipose tissue metabolic activity and local blood flow during experimental
endotoxemia in otherwise healthy humans. In a prospective, placebo controlled and
randomized experiment we measured changes in lactate, glycerol, and pyruvate concentrations
in microdialysate samples of femoral adipose tissue after an intravenous bolus of
lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 4 ng/kg). Intravenous endotoxin caused an early and constant
increase in interstitial pyruvate, while formation of lactate in adipose tissue was
not affected. In contrast, lactate levels in serum were elevated significantly after
90 min (p<0.05) and likewise, serum glycerol concentrations rose 90 min after LPS
treatment (p<0.05) and 60 min earlier than in adipose tissue. Subcutaneous adipose
tissue blood perfusion increased 2-fold while there was a strong decline in skin blood
flow. Pyruvate accumulation in subcutaneous adipose tissue is an early marker of endotoxemia.
While adipose tissue is a major source of serum glycerol and lactate in humans during
physiological conditions, it contributes only little to increased serum lactate and
glycerol levels during endotoxemia.
Key words
adipose tissue - metabolism - endotoxemia - sepsis - microdialysis