Effect of Dehydroepiandrosterone on Lipemia, Glucose Tolerance, Insulinemia, Insulin Binding to Erythrocytes in SHR/N-cp Lean Rats of Koletsky Type

Abstract

Experiments were performed in the genetically hypertensive lean males of Koletsky type. It was monitored the effect of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) treatment on lipemia, glucose tolerance, insulinemia, insulin binding to erythrocytes, fat pads, body weight and pellet intake. DHEA was applied in two doses: 10 and 20 mg per kg b.w.,i.p., for 11 days when glucose tolerance was monitored and for 21 days when the remaining parameters were analyzed. DHEA shows dose dependent decrease in changes of body weight over injection period, in plasma triglycerides and total plasma cholesterol, decrease being most expressed under the higher dose. High as well low of DHEA decreases the sum of glycaemia obtained 30, 60, 120 and 180 min after glucose loading (area under the curve) i.e., DHEA alleviates genetically based glucose intolerance. DHEA induced hypophagia under the higher dose treatment. Insulin binding to erythrocytes was not influenced by DHEA.

Keywords

• SHR of Koletsky type
• Triglycerides
• Cholesterol
• Glucose tolerance
• Insulinemia
• Insulin binding to erythrocytes