Dehydroepiandrosterone increases beta-cell mass and improves the glucose-induced insulin secretion by pancreatic islets from aged rats.
The effect of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on pancreatic islet function of aged rats, an animal model with impaired glucose-induced insulin secretion, was investigated. The following parameters were examined: morphological analysis of endocrine pancreata by immunohistochemistry; protein levels of insulin receptor, IRS-1, IRS-2, PI 3-kinase, Akt-1, and Akt-2; and static insulin secretion in isolated pancreatic islets. Pancreatic islets from DHEA-treated rats showed an increased beta-cell mass accompanied by increased Akt-1 protein level but reduced IR, IRS-1, and IRS-2 protein levels and enhanced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. The present results suggest that DHEA may be a promising drug to prevent diabetes during aging.
Medina
Mayrin C
MC
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, ICB, USP, São Paulo, SP, CEP05389-970, Brazil.
Souza
Lílian C
LC
Caperuto
Luciana C
LC
Anhê
Gabriel F
GF
Amanso
Angélica M
AM
Teixeira
Vicente P A
VP
Bordin
Silvana
S
Carpinelli
Angelo R
AR
Britto
Luiz R G
LR
Barbieri
Renato L
RL
Borella
Maria I
MI
Carvalho
Carla R O
CR
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects*; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D055504:Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008297:Male; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; C526292:IRS1 protein, human; C526297:IRS2 protein, human; D007328:Insulin; D055504:Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C526296:Irs1 protein, rat; C526299:Irs2 protein, rat; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt