Acidosis: effect on lipolytic activity of norepinephrine in isolated fat cells.

Lowering of pH from 7.40 to 6.60 significantly decreased the rate of glycerol formation in fat cells incubated with either 1-norepinephrine or theophylline. When these cells were incubated with both 1-norepinephrine and theophylline, the glycerol formation proceeded at maximal rate and was quite similar at pH 7.40 and 6.60. These results indicate that the inhibitory effect of acidosis on the lipolytic action of 1-norepinephrine is exerted on the process which activates lipase.