Endocrine Abstracts

Inhibition of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (11β-HSD1) as a means of reducing tissue corticosteroids is showing marked potential as a treatment for type 2 diabetes. However, reduction in tissue corticosteroids may lead to upregulation of the HPA axis. Therefore this study investigates the effect of 11β-HSD1 inhibition on HPA axis biomarkers and examines whether time of dosing impacts on the biomarkers.C57Bl6/Jax mice were fed 60% kcal...

Glucocorticoids act on several major neuropeptide networks in the hypothalamus which are important for regulation of energy balance and insulin sensitivity. Active glucocorticoids (cortisol/corticosterone in humans/rodents) can be regenerated from their inactive forms by the enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type one (11β-HSD1) which is expressed in the hypothalamus. Therefore we decreased 11β-HSD1 expression in the brain to investigate the role of regener...

Increased corticosterone (cortisol in humans) in liver has important adverse effects on glucose metabolism and is therefore a target for diabetes treatments. The functional effects of corticosterone depend on circulating levels as well as tissue regeneration by 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (11β-HSD1) and inactivation by steroid 5-α-reductase type I (5αR). This study investigates how obesity affects diurnal changes in circulating corticosterone, the ge...