Effects of antidepressants on isolated, electrically stimulated rat epididymal fat pads

The isolated, electrically stimulated rat epididymal fat pad in vitro was tested under various conditions as a model for neuronally induced lipolysis. A 24‐hr fast, or a preincubation without electrical stimulation, decreased spontaneous lipolysis as measured by glycerol release; however, only slight alterations were seen in the response of the pads during a 40‐min period of electrical stimulation. Spontaneous (nonstimulated) lipolysis was reduced by pretreatment with alpha‐methyl‐paratyrosine‐methylester and increased by pretreatment with reserpine; both of these treatments abolished the response to stimulation. The effects of addition of a variety of agents to the incubation medium confirm the role of a sympathetic nervous‐cyclic 3′,5′‐adenosine‐monphosphate mediated response system.