Summary
The effect of sulfonylurea on the activity of acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase, a rate limiting enzyme of lipogenesis, was investigated using isolated rat adipocytes. Insulin significantly increased the enzyme activity by 170% of the control level, while glucagon and epinephrine decreased the activity of the enzyme by 53% and 64% of the control, respectively. In the presence of tolbutamide (10-3M)or glibenclamide (10-6M), a significant potentiation of insulin action was found in adipocytes. In addition, sulfonylurea restored the activity of acetyl-CoA carboxylas ereduced by glucagon or epinephrine to the control level. Sulfonylurea enhancement of the acetyl-CoA carboxylase activity may offer one possible explanation for a mechanism of antilipolytic action of the drug in adipocytes.
Key words
Sulfonylurea - Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase - Adipocytes
