[Insulin and adipose tissue (author's transl)]

Abstract

The effect of insulin and glucose on lipolysis, on the re-esterification rate of free fatty acids and on glucose oxidation was investigated in isolated fat cells of the greater omentum. Insulin alone inhibited increased lipolysis only, but had no effect on normal basal lipolysis. The insulin effect on lipolysis was not altered by glucose. The re-esterification rate of free fatty acids was stimulated by glucose in a dose-dependent way. Insulin had no effect on the re-esterification rate of free fatty acids in the presence or absence of glucose. Basal glucose oxidation was slightly, but significantly increased by insulin. It is concluded that the prinicipal action of insulin in human adipose tissue is the inhibition of increased lipolysis, whereas glucose metabolism remains largely unaffected by insulin.