title: Cushingoid pathophysiology of old, massively obese, spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).
abstract: Male and female, massively obese and nonobese, spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) which are hypersensitive to stress were kept under quiescent conditions; they were autopsied at 15 months of age. The blood pressure of the Obese/SHR plateaued at 166 mmHg versus 198 mmHg for the nonobese/SHR. The once massive thymi vanished in the Obese/SHR accompanied by greatly enlarged adrenal glands, pituitary basophilia, greatly elevated levels of adrenocorticotrophin, corticosterone, deoxycorticosterone, aldosterone, fatty liver, hyperlipidemia, and hyperglycemia. The Obese/SHR were hyperadrenocorticoid compared with their nonobese siblings and manifested a Cushingoid spectrum of degenerative changes (e.g., thin skin, hypertension, diabetes, kidney stones, and accelerated aging). The provision of a nonstressful environment is believed to have dampened the usual chronic hyperadrenocorticism and prolonged the lifespan of the Obese/SHR.
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000097:blood; D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D009929:Organ Size; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains / Q000502:physiology*; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D008055:Lipids