The development of tolerance to antilipolytic agents by isolated rat adipocytes.

Using an isolated rat epididymal adipocyte system we have studied the development of tolerance to and cross-tolerance between nicotinic acid, 5-methylpyrazole-3-carboxylic acid and pyridyl-3-tetrazole. Preincubating isolated adipocytes with any one of these compounds results in a reduction of the antilipolytic activity of that compound when the cells are exposed to a subsequent challenge dose. Furthermore, preincubation with nicotinic acid, 5-methylpyrazole-3-carboxylic acid or pyridyl-3-tetrazole results in a reduction of the antilipolytic response to challenge with either of the other two compounds. Preincubation of isolated adipocytes with nicotinic acid does not affect the subsequent antilipolytic activity of the PGE2 analogue, sulprostone. Preincubation with sulprostone does not lead to the development of tolerance to its own antilipolytic actions. The results obtained from these studies suggest that nicotinic acid, 5-methylpyrazole-3-carboxylic acid and pyridyl-3-tetrazole exert their antilipolytic activity via a common biochemical pathway which is distinct from that mediating the antilipolytic activity of prostaglandins. These findings also indicate that the development of tolerance occurs prior to the involvement of adenylate cyclase in lipolysis.