Acute Starvation Affects Rat Adrenal Steroidogenesis

Summary

To determine how starvation affects adrenal Steroidogenesis we measured the activities of 3 adrenal enzymes involved in corticosterone biosynthesis in a group of adult female rats. The animals were either starved for 7 days or fed ad libitum for the same period. Relative adrenal weight and plasma corticosterone levels were increased in the experimental group of animals compared to the control group (40 ± 2 vs 27± 1 mg/100 g body weight, P < 0.001, and 45 ± 4 vs 30 ± 5 ng/dl, P < 0.05 respectively). There were no differences in plasma ACTH levels between the groups (34 ± 5 vs 26 ± 4 pg/ml). 11-Hydroxylase activity was increased in the starved group of animals (18 ± 3 vs 8 ± 2 nmol/mg protein/min, P < 0.01). 3 β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 21-hydroxylase activities were not different between the groups (19 ± 2 vs 16 ± 1 nmol/mg protein/min, and 100 ± 10 vs 110 ± 10 pmol/mg protein/min respectively). These results suggest that acute starvation in rats produces an increase in adrenal 11-hydroxylase activity.

Key-Words

Starvation - Adrenals - Steroidogenic Enzymes