Uptake of glucose and FFA, and HSL activity in adipose tissue after parasympathetic denervation. The left retroperitoneal fat pad was either parasympathetically denervated (n = 6) or sham operated (n = 6). Using a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp, the uptake of ³H-2-deoxy-D-glucose and ¹⁴C-palmitate and the activity of the catabolic enzyme HSL were defined. Under these hyperinsulinemic conditions, glucose uptake in the denervated fat pad was reduced by 33% (by Mann-Whitney U test, *P = 0.02) and FFA by 36% (Mann-Whitney U test, *P = 0.02); HSL activity increased by 51% (Mann-Whitney U test, **P = 0.03). Thus, parasympathetic denervation of adipose tissue shifts the metabolism to a catabolic state: uptake of substrate is decreased, while lipolysis increases. Values are expressed as mean ± SEM. dpm, disintegrations per minute.