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Horm Metab Res 1975; 7(1): 65-70
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1093792
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© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Glucocorticoid and Estrogen Administration in Weanling Rats with Hypothalamic Obesity[*]

J. K. Goldman , L. L. Bernardis
  • Veterans Administration Hospital and the Departments of Medicine and Surgery, State University of New York at Buffalo, School of Medicine, Buffalo, New York, USA
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Publication History

Publication Date:
23 December 2008 (online)

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Abstract

The development of obesity in weanling rats with ventromedial hypothalamic lesions has been shown previously to be independent of hyperphagia, hyperinsulinemia and growth hormone deficiency. The present experiments were designed to study hypothalamic obesity in rats treated with pharmacologic doses of estrogens or glucocorticoids. Weanling rats with or without hypothalamic lesions were injected subcutaneously with methylprednisolone acetate (8 mg/kg daily) or with a single 1 mg dose of polyestradiol phosphate. After two weeks the rats were sacrificed. The glucocorticoid injections produced hyperinsulinemia and completely blocked the obesity and metabolic changes usually seen after hypothalamic lesions. The estrogen treatment increased weight gain and basal lipogenesis from glucose in vitro but did not in any way inhibit the development of the changes seen after hypothalamic lesions.

Key words

Hypothalamic Obesity - Weanling Rat - Methylprednisolone Acetate - Polyestradiol Phosphate - Lipogenesis

1 This work was supported in part by NIH Grant #GM15768 from the National Institute of General Medical Science.

1 This work was supported in part by NIH Grant #GM15768 from the National Institute of General Medical Science.