Corticosterone's dual metabolic actions.
Corticosterone possesses two distinctly opposite metabolic actions. The actions are strictly dose-dependent and are linked to type I and type II corticosteroid receptor binding. These conclusions are drawn from continuous infusion studies where corticosterone yields a bitonic dose-response curve for body weight gain and feeding efficiency. Anabolic at low serum levels, corticosterone concentrations above 2 micrograms/dl bring about an opponent catabolic process that intensifies and eventually masks the anabolic action. Relatively pure type I (aldosterone) and type II (RU28362 and dexamethasone) corticosterone receptor agonists produce opposite monotonic functions that respectively mimic the ascending and descending arms of the corticosterone dose-response curve. Stimulation of either receptor increases the proportion of carcass fat to lean body mass by either increasing carcass lipids (type I) or by reducing protein (type II).
Devenport
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Department of Psychology, University of Oklahoma, Norman 73019.
Knehans
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Sundstrom
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Thomas
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D000450:Aldosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000732:Androstanols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004343:Drug Implants; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D015918:Infusion Pumps, Implantable; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000187:drug effects*
D000732:Androstanols; D004343:Drug Implants; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D000450:Aldosterone; C049154:11,17-dihydroxy-6-methyl-17-(1-propynyl)androsta-1,4,6-triene-3-one; D003907:Dexamethasone; D003345:Corticosterone