The regulation of adenylate cyclase in liver membranes of lean and obese mice.

The modulation of adenylate cyclase by guanosine triphosphate (GTP) and hormones was examined in liver membranes of lean and ob/ob mice, to determine whether a defective regulation of cyclase similar to that found in adipocyte membranes was present. In conjunction with GTP, glucagon was a powerful stimulant of cyclase in both types of membranes. In contrast, GTP alone or in conjunction with isoproterenol and norepinephrine stimulated significantly less in the membranes of the lean than in those of the obese mouse. In addition, low concentrations of norepinephrine elicited an inhibitory response in membranes of the lean mouse, but not in those of the obese. This inhibitory effect of norepinephrine was abolished by the alpha 2-antagonist yohimbine and by treatment with pertussis toxin, but not by propranolol or treatment with cholera toxin. These data show that it is possible to demonstrate inhibitory effects of guanine nucleotides on cyclase in the membranes from lean but not those from obese mice and suggest a defect in inhibitory regulation in the tissue of the obese.