title: Histomorphometric changes in the perirenal adipocytes of adrenalectomized rats treated with dexamethasone.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prolonged steroid treatment administered to any patient can cause visceral obesity, which is associated with metabolic disease and Cushing's syndrome. Glucocorticoids have a profound negative effect on adipose tissue mass, giving rise to obesity, which in turn is regulated by the 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 enzyme. Adrenalectomized rats treated with dexamethasone exhibited an increase in visceral fat deposition but not in body weight.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The main aim of this study was to determine the effect of dexamethasone on the histomorphometric characteristics of perirenal adipocytes of adrenalectomized, dexamethasone-treated rats (ADR+Dexa) and the association of dexamethasone treatment with the expression and activity of 11 β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11 β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 20 male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups: a baseline control group (n = 6), a sham-operated group (n = 7) and an adrenalectomized group (n=7). The adrenalectomized group was given intramuscular dexamethasone (ADR+Dexa) 2 weeks post adrenalectomy, and the rats from the sham-operated group were administered intramuscular vehicle (olive oil).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with 120 μg/kg intramuscular dexamethasone for 8 weeks resulted in a significant decrease in the diameter of the perirenal adipocytes (p<0.05) and a significant increase in the number of perirenal adipocytes (p<0.05). There was minimal weight gain but pronounced fat deposition in the dexamethasone-treated rats. These changes in the perirenal adipocytes were associated with high expression and dehydrogenase activity of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, dexamethasone increased the deposition of perirenal fat by hyperplasia, which causes increases in the expression and dehydrogenase activity of 11 β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 in adrenalectomized rats.
authors.affiliation: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Fairus
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Ima Nirwana
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Soelaiman
authors.forename: Elvy Suhana Mohd
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Ramli
authors.forename: Tan Ming
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Hooi
authors.forename: Farihah H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Suhaimi
mesh_terms: D043205:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000818:Animals; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000187:drug effects*; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone; D043205:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1