Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Visceral fat is a key factor underlying type 2 diabetes. The amount and distribution of body fat is strongly influenced by sex steroids. Androgen receptors (ARs) are present in adipose tissue and are abundant in the detrimental visceral bed. Here, we sought to determine the contribution of the AR in adipose tissue to the pathophysiology of visceral obesity and type 2 diabetes.Methods: Male fat-specific AR-knockout (fARKO) mice (12 weeks; n...

Mice with congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to a null mutation of cyp11b1, the gene encoding the steroidogenic enzyme 11β-hydroxylase, have low glucocorticoid levels, reduced adiposity and increased liver weight. It is notable that null mice are also glucose intolerant. Here, we have investigated these phenotypes in more detail. Plasma corticosterone levels were less responsive to restraint stress and cholesterol and triglyceride levels were not significantly different i...