Related Experiment Videos
Adrenalectomy and steroid treatment in obese (ob/ob) and diabetic (db/db) mice
Abstract:
Adrenalectomy in young obese (ob/ob) and the diabetic (db/db) mouse slowed body weight gain. Treatment of adrenalectomized ob/ob mice with cortisone or deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) significantly increased weight gain in a dose-related manner. Cortisone had no effect on weight gain on lean mice and treatment with dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate was without effect on either ob/ob or lean mice. The increment in body weight of adrenalectomized ob/ob mice treated with corticosterone and DOCA was associated with an increase in body weight and an increase in food intake. When adrenalectomy was performed at twenty-three days of age (five days before weaning), animals carrying the (db/db) genotype remained lighter than their normal littermates. These data document the importance of the adrenal gland and its steroids for the development and maintenance of many features of the obese or diabetes mouse.
Insights
Adrenalectomy slowed weight gain in obese and diabetic mice. Adrenal steroids like cortisone and DOCA reversed this effect, highlighting the adrenal gland's role in obesity and diabetes.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Metabolic Research
- Animal Models of Disease
Background:
- Obesity and diabetes are complex metabolic disorders.
- The adrenal gland produces crucial hormones regulating metabolism.
- Obese (ob/ob) and diabetic (db/db) mouse models are vital for studying these conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of the adrenal gland and its steroids in the development of obesity and diabetes in mouse models.
- To determine the effects of adrenalectomy and subsequent steroid replacement on body weight and food intake.
Main Methods:
- Surgical adrenalectomy was performed on young obese (ob/ob) and diabetic (db/db) mice.
- Adrenalectomized mice were treated with various adrenal steroids, including cortisone, deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA), corticosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate.
- Body weight gain and food intake were monitored and compared to control groups.
Main Results:
- Adrenalectomy significantly slowed body weight gain in both ob/ob and db/db mice.
- Treatment with cortisone or DOCA dose-dependently increased weight gain in adrenalectomized ob/ob mice.
- Cortisone did not affect weight gain in lean mice, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate had no effect on either obese or lean mice.
- Increased body weight in treated mice was associated with increased food intake.
Conclusions:
- The adrenal gland and its steroid products are essential for the development and maintenance of key features in obese and diabetic mouse models.
- Adrenal steroids play a significant role in regulating body weight and food intake in these models.
- These findings underscore the importance of adrenal function in metabolic disease pathogenesis.