Dehydroepiandrosterone prevents age-associated alterations, increasing insulin sensitivity

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Metabolic Syndrome
• Aging Research

Background:

• Age-related decline in dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is linked to obesity and insulin resistance.
• Understanding DHEA's role in mitigating age-related metabolic dysfunction is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of chronic DHEA administration on body weight, adiposity, and key adipokines in aged female rats fed a high-fat diet.
• To analyze DHEA's impact on leptin, adiponectin, and resistin expression and their relation to obesity and insulin resistance.

Main Methods:

• Old female rats were fed a high-fat diet for 13 weeks with or without DHEA supplementation (5 g/kg diet).
• Body weight, adipose tissue mass, serum insulin, leptin, and adiponectin levels were measured.
• Gene expression of adipokines (adiponectin, resistin) in visceral fat depots was analyzed.

Main Results:

• DHEA treatment significantly decreased body weight, adipose tissue mass, and serum insulin, adiponectin, and leptin levels.
• Aging-induced reduction in visceral adiponectin mRNA expression was attenuated by DHEA.
• DHEA stimulated resistin gene expression in specific adipose depots, increasing circulating resistin levels.

Conclusions:

• Chronic DHEA administration effectively reduces body weight and adiposity in aged female rats on a high-fat diet.
• DHEA treatment improves insulin sensitivity, indicated by reduced HOMA index and circulating insulin.
• DHEA supplementation counteracts age-associated decreases in visceral adiponectin expression, suggesting a protective role in metabolic health.