The effect of adrenergic agents on the activities of glycerol 3-phosphate acyltransferase and triglyceride lipase in the isolated perfused rat heart.

Glycerol 3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT) activity and triglyceride lipase (TGL) activity were measured in homogenates from hearts perfused with adrenergic agonists and antagonists. Perfusion with adrenalin or the beta-agonist isoprenaline produced an increase in TGL activity and a fall in GPAT activity. These changes could be imitated by incubation of heart homogenates with cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The alpha 2-agonist clondine produced the opposite effect, thus it increased GPAT activity and decreased TGL activity. Methoxamine, an alpha 1-agonist, had no effect on TGL activity but reduced GPAT activity. Continuous perfusion of the beta-antagonist atenolol reduced TGL activity to half that found in controls but also reduced GPAT activity. No change was seen on continuous perfusion of alpha 1- or alpha 2-antagonists. Changes in GPAT activity were localized mainly in the microsomal enzyme. These changes are consistent with both enzymes being regulated via a cyclic-AMP dependent protein kinase system and via alpha-adrenergic mechanisms.