Lipolysis in rat adipocytes during pregnancy and lactation. The response to noradrenaline.

1. Lipolysis has been measured in parametrial adipocytes from virgin, pregnant and lactating rats. 2. The basal rate and the maximal rate of lipolysis, the latter measured in the presence of noradrenaline and theophylline, remained constant between the three experimental categories, with the exception of a significant transient increase in the basal rate at parturition. 3. The noradrenaline-stimulated lipolysis rate rose above the virgin rate during pregnancy and fell below it during lactation; inclusion of adenosine deaminase in incubations abolished these differences in response to noradrenaline. 4. Cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity was lower in adipocytes during pregnancy and lactation than in virgin animals.