Stimulatory effect of d-ephedrine on β3-adrenoceptors in adipose tissue of rats

Abstract The effect of ephedrine on β 3 -adrenoceptors (β 3 -AR) was studied in the isolated adipose tissue of Wistar rat. Incubation with d -ephedrine (0.1–10 μM) induced a concentration-dependent decrease of uptake of [ 14 C]-deoxy- d -glucose into white adipose tissues (WAT). The inhibitory effect of d -ephedrine was potentiated by BRL 37344, the agonist of β 3 -AR and concentration-dependently inhibited by SR 59230A, the selective antagonist of β 3 -AR. The action of d -ephedrine on β 3 -AR was further blocked by the antibodies for β 3 -AR, but not the immunoglobulin, in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, d -ephedrine increased glycerol release from the isolated brown adipose tissues (BAT) and this action was also abolished by SR 59230A at concentration sufficient to block β 3 -AR. Thus, these results suggest that d -ephedrine has the ability to activate β 3 -AR both in WAT and BAT of Wistar rats in vitro.