Histomorphometric changes in the perirenal adipocytes of adrenalectomized rats treated with dexamethasone
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1807-59322011000500023Keywords:
Dexamethasone, Adrenalectomized rat, Perirenal fat, Hyperplasia, 11 β, -hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Prolonged steroid treatment administered to any patient can cause visceral obesity, which is associated with metabolic disease and Cushing's syndrome. Glucocorticoids have a profound negative effect on adipose tissue mass, giving rise to obesity, which in turn is regulated by the 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 enzyme. Adrenalectomized rats treated with dexamethasone exhibited an increase in visceral fat deposition but not in body weight. OBJECTIVES: The main aim of this study was to determine the effect of dexamethasone on the histomorphometric characteristics of perirenal adipocytes of adrenalectomized, dexamethasone-treated rats (ADR+Dexa) and the association of dexamethasone treatment with the expression and activity of 11 β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11 β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1). METHODS: A total of 20 male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups: a baseline control group (n = 6), a sham-operated group (n = 7) and an adrenalectomized group (n=7). The adrenalectomized group was given intramuscular dexamethasone (ADR+Dexa) 2 weeks post adrenalectomy, and the rats from the sham-operated group were administered intramuscular vehicle (olive oil). RESULTS: Treatment with 120 μg/kg intramuscular dexamethasone for 8 weeks resulted in a significant decrease in the diameter of the perirenal adipocytes (p<0.05) and a significant increase in the number of perirenal adipocytes (p<0.05). There was minimal weight gain but pronounced fat deposition in the dexamethasone-treated rats. These changes in the perirenal adipocytes were associated with high expression and dehydrogenase activity of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, dexamethasone increased the deposition of perirenal fat by hyperplasia, which causes increases in the expression and dehydrogenase activity of 11 β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 in adrenalectomized rats.Downloads
Download data is not yet available.
Downloads
Published
2011-01-01
Issue
Section
Basic Researches
How to Cite
Ahmad, F., Soelaiman, I. N., Ramli, E. S. M., Hooi, T. M., & Suhaimi, F. H. (2011). Histomorphometric changes in the perirenal adipocytes of adrenalectomized rats treated with dexamethasone . Clinics, 66(5), 849-853. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1807-59322011000500023