The effect of diabetes and insulin on adipose lactate dehydrogenase isozymes.

Adipose lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (EC 1.1.1.27) isozyme distribution was altered in streptozotocin-diabetic and fasting rats resulting from a relative reduction of subunit A. Treatment with insulin for 2 days partially restored the relative content of isozyme 5 to control values in the diabetic rats, and the effect of insulin was not inhibited by simultaneous injection of actinomycin D or puromycin. When the epididymal adipose tissues isolated from control animals were incubated in vitro with dibutyryl adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate or epinephrine, a relative decrease in subunit A was observed; whereas, either compound caused an increase in subunit A in diabetic tissues. The findings suggest that the redistribution of LDH isozyme under these conditions is to prevent excessive accumulation of lactate in the tissue.