AJP - Endocrinology and Metabolism, Vol 264, Issue 1 E11-E17, Copyright © 1993 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

Role of alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors in sympathetically mediated thermogenesis

E. E. Blaak, M. A. van Baak, K. P. Kempen and W. H. Saris
Department of Human Biology, University of Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands.

This study was intended to investigate the role of alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor populations in the sympathetically mediated thermogenesis in healthy lean males. In the first study, the beta 1-, beta 2-, and beta 3-agonist isoprenaline was infused in increasing doses with and without simultaneous infusion of the beta 1-blocker atenolol (Iso and Iso+AT, respectively). There was an increase in whole body energy expenditure (EE) after infusing Iso+AT (P < 0.001) and an almost twofold higher increase after infusion of Iso only (P < 0.001). Stimulation of the beta 2-adrenoceptors by a specific agonist (salbutamol) resulted in a significant increase in EE (P < 0.001). The effect of stimulation of alpha 1-adrenoceptors on EE was measured by infusing increasing doses of the alpha 1-agonist phenylephrine. EE did not change, whereas blood pressure (BP) increased (P < 0.001) and heart rate decreased (P < 0.01). In addition to this study, the alpha 1-, alpha 2-, beta 1-, beta 2-, and beta 3-agonists norepinephrine and epinephrine were infused with simultaneous infusion of the beta 1- and beta 2-blocker propranolol. In both studies, there was no effect on EE, whereas BP increased (P < 0.01). In conclusion, in healthy male lean volunteers both beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors are involved in the sympathetically mediated thermogenesis, whereas the alpha 1-, alpha 2-, and beta 3-adrenoceptors do not play a role.

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