In vivo effects of corticotropin-releasing hormone on femoral adipose tissue metabolism in women

Abstract

To investigate whether i.v. injected corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) (1 microg/kg) has a direct effect on adipose tissue metabolism in humans. Double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Twelve healthy normal weight female volunteers (age 20-37 years, body mass index: 22.75+/-1.33 kg/m(2)) Assessment of local generation of glycerol, and glucose in adipose tissue by microdialysis. Measurement of adipose tissue and skin blood flow by laser Doppler flowmetry. Injection of CRH acutely increases interstitial concentrations of glycerol (19.0+/-5.4%, P<0.05) and glucose (13.5+/-5.8%, P<0.05) reaching peak levels after 15 min. Plasma glycerol increases in parallel (Delta=16.7+/-5.9% after 15 min (P<0.05)), whereas plasma glucose remains unaffected. Changes in tissue blood flow do not explain interstitial metabolite alterations. Initial CRH effects on adipose tissue metabolism are short lasting and disappear after 15 min. The importance of CRH on human energy metabolism is underlined by the present in vivo study demonstrating peptidergic effects on lipolysis and glucose homeostasis in human subcutaneous adipose tissue.