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Glucocorticoids and insulin: complex interaction on brown adipose tissue
A M Strack1, C J Horsley, R J Sebastian
1Department of Physiology, University of California San Francisco 94143-0444, USA.
The American Journal of Physiology
|May 1, 1995
Summary
Corticosterone and insulin significantly impact caloric efficiency and fat stores. Their complex interplay influences energy balance and adipose tissue regulation, with potential mediation via the sympathetic nervous system.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Metabolism
- Physiology
Background:
- Glucocorticoids and insulin are key regulators of long-term food intake and body weight.
- Their reciprocal interactions influence energy homeostasis and adipose tissue dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interactive effects of corticosterone and insulin on caloric efficiency, white adipose tissue (WAT), and brown adipose tissue (BAT).
- To elucidate the roles of these hormones in energy storage and expenditure.
Main Methods:
- Adrenalectomized rats were used in two experiments involving corticosterone and/or streptozotocin-induced diabetes.
- Insulin treatment was administered to diabetic rats.
- Regression analyses were performed on caloric efficiency, plasma triglycerides, and adipose tissue stores.
Main Results:
- Corticosterone and insulin explained over 50% of the variance in caloric efficiency, plasma triglycerides, and WAT stores.
- High concentrations of both hormones, even with a normal ratio, reduced overall energy gain and promoted fat redistribution.
- Both hormones were anabolic for BAT lipid storage, but their effects on uncoupling protein (UCP) in BAT were context-dependent.
Conclusions:
- Corticosterone and insulin exert significant, complex influences on energy balance and adipose tissue metabolism.
- The regulation of BAT variables by these hormones may involve intermediate pathways, such as sympathetic nervous system input.
- Understanding these hormonal interactions is crucial for metabolic research.