The Journal of endocrinology
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[Arg8]-vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OT) are neurohypophysial hormones which exert various actions, including the control of blood glucose, in some peripheral tissues. To investigate the type of receptors involved in AVP- and OT-induced glucagon secretion, we investigated the effect of these peptides on glucagon secretion in islets of wild-type (V1bR+/+) and vasopressin V1b receptor knockout (V1bR-/-) mice. AVP-induced glucagon secretion was significantly inhibited by the selective V1b receptor antagonist, SSR149415 (30%), and OT-induced glucagon secretion by the specific OT receptor antagonist, d(CH2)5[Tyr(Me)2, Thr4, Tyr-NH(2)(9)]OVT (CL-14-26) (45%), in islets of V1bR+/+mice. ⋯ In addition, both AVP and OT stimulated glucagon secretion with the same efficacy in V1bR-/- mice as in V1bR+/+ mice. AVP- and OT-induced glucagon secretion in V1bR-/- mice was significantly inhibited by CL-14-26. These results demonstrate that V1b receptors can mediate OT-induced glucagon secretion and OT receptors can mediate AVP-induced glucagon secretion in islets from V1bR+/+mice in the presence of a heterologous antagonist, while AVP and OT can stimulate glucagon secretion through the OT receptors in V1bR-/-mice, suggesting that the other receptor can compensate when one receptor is absent.
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We examined 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (5alpha-DHT) inactivation and the expression of several steroid-converting enzymes with a focus on aldoketoreductases 1C (AKR1C), especially AKR1C2, in abdominal adipose tissue in men. AKR1C2 is mainly involved in the conversion of the potent androgen 5alpha-DHT to its inactive forms 5alpha-androstane-3alpha/beta,17beta-diol (3alpha/beta-diol). Subcutaneous (s.c.) and omental (Om) adipose tissue biopsies were obtained from 21 morbidly obese men undergoing biliopancreatic derivation surgery and 11 lean to obese men undergoing general abdominal surgery. ⋯ In conclusion, androgen inactivation was detected in abdominal adipose tissue in men, with higher 3alpha/beta-HSD activity in the s.c. versus Om depot. Higher Om 5alpha-DHT inactivation rates were found in obese compared with lean men. Further studies are required to elucidate whether local androgen inactivation in abdominal adipose tissue is involved in the modulation of adipocyte metabolism and regional fat distribution in men.
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The effect of visceral fat removal upon glucose homeostasis, insulin signal transduction, and serum adipokine levels in an animal model of diet-induced obesity and diabetes mellitus (DIO) was evaluated. Swiss mice were initially divided into two groups fed with regular rodent chow or with chow containing 24 g% saturated fat (DIO). DIO mice became obese and overtly diabetic after 8 weeks. ⋯ Finally, serum levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta and IL-6 were significantly increased, while adiponectin levels were significantly reduced in DIO mice. After visceral fat removal the levels of adipokines returned to near control levels. The present study shows that removal of visceral fat improves insulin signal transduction and glucose homeostasis in an animal model of diet-induced obesity and diabetes mellitus and these metabolic and molecular outcomes are accompanied by the restoration of adipokine levels.
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Glucose-dependent insulinotrophic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) are important enteroendocrine hormones that are rapidly degraded by an ubiquitous enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase IV to yield truncated metabolites GIP(3-42) and GLP-1(9-36)amide. In this study, we investigated the effects of sub-chronic exposure to these major circulating forms of GIP and GLP-1 on blood glucose control and endocrine pancreatic function in obese diabetic (ob/ob) mice. A once daily injection of either peptide for 14 days had no effect on body weight, food intake or pancreatic insulin content or islet morphology. ⋯ Accordingly, plasma insulin responses were unchanged suggesting that the observed enhancement of insulin sensitivity was responsible for the improvement in glycaemic control. These data indicate that sub-chronic exposure to GIP and GLP-1 metabolites does not result in physiological impairment of insulin secretion or blood glucose control. GIP(3-42) might exert an overall beneficial effect by improving insulin sensitivity through extrapancreatic action.
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Parathyroid hormone (PTH) stimulates bone resorption as well as bone formation in vivo and in organ culture. The catabolic actions of PTH have been recognized in patients with hyperparathyroidism, or with acute infusion of the N-terminal 1-34 fragment of human PTH (hPTH1-34). Whereas the anabolic actions of daily injection with PTH have been well studied in both humans and mice, the catabolic actions of PTH on murine bone remain to be defined. ⋯ Micro-computed tomography (muCT) analysis of the distal femurs revealed that hPTH1-34 infusion significantly decreased trabecular connectivity density (P<0.05). Thus, the murine bone response to continuous PTH infusion was quite different from that seen with daily PTH injection. Short-term infusion of hPTH1-34 appears to be a good model to study the mechanisms underlying the catabolic action of PTH in mice.