Semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase activity in white adipose tissue of the insulin-deficient rat.

We have investigated whether the effects in white adipose tissue due to insulin deficiency might also be related to an alteration of histamine levels which are regulated by semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase. The lack of circulating insulin induced by streptozotocin produced, in rat white adipose tissue, a loss of affinity of the semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase for histamine oxidation. In parallel, a decrease of cell transformation, measured by glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity and an augmented sensitivity to histamine lipolysis were observed. These findings could contribute to the understanding of histamine metabolism and function in diabetic rats and to the knowledge concerning amine oxidases in this animal pathology.