Abstract
Hesperetin was able to inhibit both epinephrine- and theophylline-induced lipolysis
in rat adipocytes. At concentrations of 125 µM and 250 µM, it could augment the inhibitory
effect of low insulin concentration (17 µU/2ml) on epinephrine-induced lipolysis.
The basal cyclic AMP levels and phosphodiesterase activities in intact adipocytes
were unaltered by hesperetin. The antilipolytic action of hesperetin in adenosine
deaminase pretreated adipocytes was abolished. Hesperetin could only prevent lipolysis
but not reverse the initial lipolytic activity stimulated through the adenosine deaminase
pretreatment of the adipocytes. In pertussis or cholera toxin (PT or CT) pretreated
adipocytes, the antilipolytic action of hesperetin was unaffected. From the data obtained
it is possible to conclude that the antilipolytic action of hesperetin is not mediated
through the inhibition of cyclic AMP level nor through CT- or PT-sensitive G proteins.
However, the involvement of hesperetin in preventing the accessibility of cellular
receptors to the actions of lipolytic agents may be implicated.
Key words
Antilipolysis - hesperetin - rat adipocytes
