Adrenal cortex disorders in a new model of obesity, Gerbillus gerbillus, exposed to a high carbohydrate diet

The high-expression programming of SR-B1 mediates adrenal dysfunction in female offspring induced by prenatal caffeine exposure and its cholesterol accumulation mechanism

The cholesterol metabolism and homeostasis of adrenal are important for steroidogenesis. Our previous studies found that prenatal caffeine exposure (PCE) can inhibit adrenal steroidogenesis in offspring, but whether the mechanism is related to local imbalance of cholesterol metabolism remains unknown. Here, we found that PCE inhibited adrenal steroidogenesis and increased the expression of cell pyroptosis and inflammatory-related indicators (NLRP3, caspase-1 and IL-1β) in female adult offspring rats, and at the same time, the cholesterol levels in serum and adrenal gland also significantly increased. In vitro, the high level of cholesterol could inhibit adrenal corticosteroid synthesis through pyroptosis and an inflammatory response. It suggested that the low adrenal steroidogenesis in PCE female adult offspring is related to local cholesterol accumulation-mediated pyroptosis and inflammation. Furthermore, dating back to the intrauterine period, PCE increased the serum CORT level in female fetal rats, and increased the expression of the adrenal cholesterol intake gene SR-B1, which persisted after birth and even into adulthood. At the cellular level, silencing SR-B1 could reverse the increase of intracellular cholesterol content caused by high levels of cortisol in NCI-H295R cells. Finally, we confirmed that high concentrations of glucocorticoids increased the expression and H3K14ac level of the promoter region in SR-B1 by upregulating the GR/SREBP1/p300 pathway in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, we clarified that the high-expression programming of SR-B1 mediates adrenal dysfunction in PCE female offspring and its cholesterol accumulation mechanism, which provided a favorable basis for finding novel targets to prevent and treat fetal-originated diseases.

Sensitivity of the Neuroendocrine Stress Axis in Metabolic Diseases

Metabolic diseases are prevalent in modern society and have reached pandemic proportions. Metabolic diseases have systemic effects on the body and can lead to changes in the neuroendocrine stress axis, the critical regulator of the body's stress response. These changes may be attributed to rising insulin levels and the release of adipokines and inflammatory cytokines by adipose tissue, which affect hormone production by the neuroendocrine stress axis. Chronic stress due to inflammation may exacerbate these effects. The increased sensitivity of the neuroendocrine stress axis may be responsible for the development of metabolic syndrome, providing a possible explanation for the high prevalence of severe comorbidities such as heart disease and stroke associated with metabolic disease. In this review, we address current knowledge of the neuroendocrine stress axis in response to metabolic disease and discuss its role in developing metabolic syndrome.

The impact of diabetes and obesity on fertility and the potential role of gut hormones as treatment

AIMS

Alongside its metabolic implications, obesity and associated diabetes impair female reproductive function, causing infertility and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Recently, gut hormones and their receptors have been identified in various reproductive organs indicating their potential regulatory effects on reproductive function. This review aims to give an overview of their potential effects.

METHODS

This review focuses on literature that outlines modifications during obesity, diabetes and related infertility with an emphasis on gut hormones and their therapeutic potential.

RESULTS

Evidence suggests that bariatric surgery has positive effects on fertility and PCOS where major alterations in metabolism occurs through restoration of gut hormone levels. This is thought to be due to the indirect effect weight loss and regulation of blood glucose has on the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis influencing reproduction.

CONCLUSIONS

Further research is required to elucidate the cellular mechanisms involved in the direct effects of gut hormone receptor activation on reproductive tissues. Current observations suggest a therapeutic role for gut hormones in infertility/PCOS associated with metabolic pathophysiology.

Effect of two hypercaloric diets on the hormonal and metabolic profile of the adrenal gland

OBJECTIVES

Who disrupts who? It is not clear what the interaction is between a high calorie diet (HCD) and adrenal axis activation in obesity. The goal was to assess the effect of two hypercaloric diets commercialized in Algeria on the hormonal and metabolic profile of the adrenal gland in rabbits.

METHODS

Two classes of local male adult rabbits (n=16) and a finishing diet (FD) as a control for 15 weeks.

RESULTS

It has been shown that HCD-received animals have developed visceral obesity, dyslipidemia and insulin resistance IR by dramatically increasing body weight, visceral fat tissue and adrenal weight, combined with elevated plasma levels of ACTH, cortisol, leptin and insulin. The HCD diet increased the levels of cortisol in the visceral adipose tissue (VAT), in peri-adrenal adipose tissue (PAAT), and decreased cortisol levels in the liver. HCD also causes the process of inflammatory fibrosis associated with the migration and spread of chromaffin cells in the adrenal gland.

CONCLUSIONS

This study gives new insights into how diet-induced obesity studied on local rabbits affects the biology of the adrenal gland. The correlation of these changes with paracrine connections between the chromaffin cell and glomerulosa indicates potential therapeutic methods for obese-related steroid hormone dysfunction.