Compared expression of the 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 in the brain of high energy diet induced obese rats

摘要

Circulating glucocorticoids are involved in the metabolic syndrome and are tightly controlled by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis; however intracellular concentration of glucocorticoids depends also by the expression of the enzyme 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11beta-HSD1). Hence, cortisol plasma levels in the metabolic syndrome tend to be normal or lower than in normal individuals. Several organs have high levels of glucocorticoids in the metabolic syndrome. Our investigation was carried out to verify whether high energy diets can alter brain 11beta-HSD1 expression. Male Wistar rats were fed for eight weeks with high fat (50% of energy from fat) or high fructose (30% of feed weight) diets. Brains were then analyzed by immunohistochemistry and western blot to compare 11beta-HSD1 levels with appropriate controls. We showed that both high fat and high fructose diet alters rat brain specific 11beta-HSD1 expression, suggesting that 11beta-HSD1 can have direct impact on the central nervous system of diet induced obese rats.