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Horm Metab Res 1984; 16: 43-46
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1014895
© Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart · New York

Metabolic Consequences of Dehydroepiandrosterone in Lean and Obese Adult Zucker Rats

Margot P. Cleary1 , J. Billheimer2 , Amelia Finan1 , J. L. Sartin3 , A. G. Schwartz4
  • 1Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
  • 2Department of Biological Sciences, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
  • 3Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, U.S.A.
  • 4Fels Research Institute, Temple University Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
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Publication History

1983

1983

Publication Date:
14 March 2008 (online)

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Summary

Several previously reported studies have shown that in rodents exogenously administered dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) can cause numerous metabolic changes. In the present study some additional metabolic effects of DHEA are presented using old lean and obese Zucker rats. With this experimental model most of the effects were found to occur in the obese rat. These included decreases in serum insulin and cholesterol as well as a decrease in hepatic acyl-CoA cholesterol-acyl transferase activity. In both lean and obese rats an increase in hepatic long-chain fatty acyl-CoA hydrolase was found. This increase in activity may partially explain DHEA's effect on decreasing body weight in rodents.

Key-Words:

Zucker Rats - Dehydroepiandrosterone - Insulin - Serum Cholesterol - Acyl CoA-Cholesterol - Acyl Transferase - Long-Chain Fatty-Acyl CoA Hydrolase

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