title: Sex-related differences in the effects of high-fat diets on DHEA-treated rats.
abstract: Several studies have investigated the beneficial effects of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on lipid and glucose metabolism. However, many of these studies are inconclusive about the effects of DHEA administration on metabolic disorders, and there appear to be sex-related differences in the effects of DHEA treatment. Few animal studies have addressed the effects of DHEA on diet-induced metabolic disorders. The present study sought to ascertain whether sex differences exist in the effects of a high-fat diet (HFD) on weight gain, adiposity, and biochemical and hormonal parameters in DHEA-treated rats. Rats were fed a HFD for 4 weeks and simultaneously received treatment with DHEA (10 mg/kg by subcutaneous injection) once weekly. Body weight, retroperitoneal fat depot weight, serum glucose, insulin, and leptin levels, and hepatic lipids were measured. HFD exposure increased the adiposity index in both sexes, the hepatic triglyceride content in both sexes, and the hepatic total cholesterol level in males. Moreover, the HFD induced an increase in blood glucose levels in both sexes, and hyperinsulinemia in males. In this experimental model, DHEA treatment reduced hepatic triglyceride levels only in females, regardless of HFD exposure. Exposure to a HFD, even if it does not cause obesity, may enhance risk factors for metabolic disorders, and males are more sensitive to this effect. DHEA treatment can help prevent metabolic derangements, but its effect varies with sex.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Interação Neuro-Humoral, Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Sarmento Leite, 500, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, CEP 90050-170, Brazil, analuciacecconello@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ana Lúcia
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Cecconello
authors.forename: Marcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trapp
authors.forename: Ana Lúcia
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Hoefel
authors.forename: Cláudia Vieira
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: Bruno Dutra
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Arbo
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Osterkamp
authors.forename: Luiz Carlos Rios
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Kucharski
authors.forename: Maria Flávia Marques
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D005260:Female; D006946:Hyperinsulinism / Q000378:metabolism; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D008055:Lipids; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone