Description: Segment 1 Opening credits. Dr Gilliland introduces Dr David Galton, consultant physician to St Bartholomew's Hospital, London. Dr Galton introduces the topic, saying he will talk about the hormonal control of lipolysis and the possibility of whether metabolic defects occur on this pathway. First, he explains lipolysis. A diagram shows the relevant body organs, and Galton explains how the organs break down and use fatty acids and how this process can go wrong. He says that the major contribution to blood fatty acids comes from the adipocyte. Time start: 00:00:00:00 Time end: 00:05:44:13 Length: 00:05:44:13 Segment 2 An electron micrograph of a human adipocyte is seen and Galton describes its structure. He also describes the central lipid vacuole, seen in a diagram. A magnification of a triglyceride molecule is seen. Next, Galton explains lipolysis in biochemical terms with the aid of diagrams and charts. Time start: 00:05:44:13 Time end: 00:09:29:12 Length: 00:03:44:24 Segment 3 Galton details the hormonal controls of the metabolic pathway. A flow chart shows how hormonal control of lipolysis is exerted, and Galton explains the process in detail. He then briefly describes how the scheme for triglyceride breakdown is analogous to that for glycogen. A diagram of glycogen breakdown is seen. Time start: 00:09:29:12 Time end: 00:15:20:01 Length: 00:05:50:14 Segment 4 Galton refers back to the hormone control flowchart and discusses research that suggests this system stimulates lipolysis. A graph shows the output of fatty acids and glycerol over an hour from pieces of human adipose tissue incubated in vitro. The rise and fall of cyclic-AMP (a second messenger in biological processes) levels is also seen. Another graph shows that isoprenaline also has an effect on the human adipocyte. Next, Galton talks about the clinical significance of this metabolic pathway. His research team have been studying a large family (a photograph is seen) who appear to have a defect in lipolysis. A family chart is seen, and Galton points out the family members who are obese. Time start: 00:15:20:01 Time end: 00:19:40:18 Length: 00:04:20:17 Segment 6 Galton continues to discuss the data that suggests that the family members do not fall into the population of normal obese patients. The data is seen on a chart. A slide of a thin layer chromatogram of a normal tissue sample and two obese samples is seen, which Galton analyses to see where the defect occurs. He also discusses the activity of the enzymes protein kinase and triglyceride lipase in relation to the defect in the metabolic pathway. A chart shows the actions of enzymes in various tissue samples, and Galton analyses this data. He concludes the lecture, saying that he has described an important biochemical pathway, vital for the supply of fatty acids to the bloodstream. Time start: 00:25:00:20 Time end: 00:31:28:00 Length: 00:06:27:05