Endocrine Abstracts

Patients with obesity are relatively Growth Hormone (GH) deficient. GH has potent effects on adipocyte biology, stimulating lipolysis but also promoting pre-adipocyte proliferation. Conversely, we have shown that cortisol inhibits pre-adipocyte proliferation and enhances differentiation. Furthermore, GH, acting through IGF-1, inhibits 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11beta-HSD1) which converts the inactive glucocorticoid, cortisone (E) to active cortisol (F) in ad...