Dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEAS) reduces adipocyte hyperplasia associated with feeding rats a high-fat diet.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if chronic administration of a low level of dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEAS) (10 micrograms/ml drinking water) attenuates adiposity in male Osborne-Mendel rats fed low-fat (11% of kcals) vs high fat (46% of kcals) diets.


METHODS
Rats were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups for 6 wk in this 2 x 2 factorial study. The main effects tested were diet (low vs high fat) and DHEAS (- or +).


METHODS
Male Osborne-Mendel rats (initial body wt approximately 265 g).


METHODS
Adipocyte mass, size and number from two major fat depots (retroperitoneal, epididymal); mass of one subcutaneous adipose depot (inguinal); serum levels of triglycerides, insulin, glucose and DHEAS; brown adipose tissue (BAT) mass; body weight gain, food and water consumption, and residual carcass composition.


RESULTS
DHEAS treatment had no effect on weight gain, food consumption or water intake. DHEAS-treated rats fed the high-fat diet had smaller fat pads containing fewer adipocytes and less carcass lipid than the non DHEAS-treated rats fed the high-fat diet. In contrast, DHEAS-treated rats fed the low-fat diet had similar levels of adipose tissue mass and cellularity compared to control animals fed the low-fat diet.


CONCLUSIONS
Administration of a low dose of DHEAS (10 micrograms/ml or 0.8 mg/kg body wt/d) in the drinking water of young male Osborne-Mendel rats fed a high-fat diet for 6 wk reduced carcass lipid, fat depot mass and retroperitoneal and epididymal adipocyte number compared to their high-fat-fed cohorts. In this study, the antiobesity effects of DHEAS were specific to the level of dietary fat used.
Lea-Currie
Y R
YR
Department of Food, Nutrition, and Food Service Management, School of Human Environmental Health Sciences, University of North Carolina at Greensboro 27412, USA.
Wen
P
P
McIntosh
M K
MK
D017667:Adipocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004822:Epididymis / Q000473:pathology; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007264:Inguinal Canal / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space / Q000473:pathology
D004041:Dietary Fats; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate