This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by la Fleur, S. E. Articles by Dallman, M. F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by la Fleur, S. E. Articles by Dallman, M. F.

Interaction between Corticosterone and Insulin in Obesity: Regulation of Lard Intake and Fat Stores

Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143-0444

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Susanne E. la Fleur, Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, 513 Parnassus Avenue, Box 0444, San Francisco, California 94143-0444. E-mail: susanne{at}itsa.ucsf.edu.

Passive elevations in glucocorticoids result in increased insulin and abdominal obesity with peripheral wasting, as observed in Cushing’s syndrome, with little effect on chow intake. In the absence of insulin (streptozotocin-induced diabetes) diabetic rats markedly increase their chow intake in proportion to glucocorticoids. Given a choice of lard or chow, diabetic rats first eat lard, then reduce caloric intake to normal for 48 h before returning to hyperphagia on chow alone. We performed three experiments to determine the relationship of corticosterone and insulin to lard intake, chow intake, body weight, hormones, and fat depots. The results of these studies clarify the actions of both circulating glucocorticoids and insulin on caloric intake in adult male rats. Our experiments show that glucocorticoids provoke dose-related increases in total caloric intake that persist for days and weeks; the results also suggest that increasing insulin concentrations stimulated by glucocorticoids determine the amount of fat intake. Furthermore, we show that lard intake is associated with increasing insulin concentrations. Additionally, the results in adrenalectomized and adrenalectomized, streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats strongly suggest that it is a combination of corticosterone and insulin that increases abdominal fat depot weight. Independently of the hormonally manipulated rats, the results also show that intact rats voluntarily eat a considerable and stable proportion of their daily calories as lard when given a choice between lard and chow. These results suggest that some human obesities may result from elevated glucocorticoids and insulin increasing the proportional intake of high density calories.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. T. Foster, J. P. Warne, A. B. Ginsberg, H. F. Horneman, N. C. Pecoraro, S. F. Akana, and M. F. Dallman Palatable Foods, Stress, and Energy Stores Sculpt Corticotropin-Releasing Factor, Adrenocorticotropin, and Corticosterone Concentrations after Restraint Endocrinology, May 1, 2009; 150(5): 2325 - 2333. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. P. Warne, S. F. Akana, A. B. Ginsberg, H. F. Horneman, N. C. Pecoraro, and M. F. Dallman Disengaging insulin from corticosterone: roles of each on energy intake and disposition Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, May 1, 2009; 296(5): R1366 - R1375. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. P Macfarlane, S. Forbes, and B. R Walker Glucocorticoids and fatty acid metabolism in humans: fuelling fat redistribution in the metabolic syndrome J. Endocrinol., May 1, 2008; 197(2): 189 - 204. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Rhee Childhood Overweight and the Relationship between Parent Behaviors, Parenting Style, and Family Functioning The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, January 1, 2008; 615(1): 11 - 37. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. P. Warne, M. T. Foster, H. F. Horneman, N. C. Pecoraro, H. K. de Jong, A. B. Ginsberg, S. F. Akana, and M. F. Dallman The gastroduodenal branch of the common hepatic vagus regulates voluntary lard intake, fat deposition, and plasma metabolites in streptozotocin-diabetic rats Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, January 1, 2008; 294(1): E190 - E200. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Marissal-Arvy, A. Gaumont, A. Langlois, F. Dabertrand, M. Bouchecareilh, C. Tridon, and P. Mormede Strain differences in hypothalamic pituitary adrenocortical axis function and adipogenic effects of corticosterone in rats J. Endocrinol., December 1, 2007; 195(3): 473 - 484. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. F. Dallman, J. P. Warne, M. T. Foster, and N. C. Pecoraro Glucocorticoids and insulin both modulate caloric intake through actions on the brain J. Physiol., September 1, 2007; 583(2): 431 - 436. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. P. Warne, M. T. Foster, H. F. Horneman, N. C. Pecoraro, A. B. Ginsberg, S. F. Akana, and M. F. Dallman Afferent signalling through the common hepatic branch of the vagus inhibits voluntary lard intake and modifies plasma metabolite levels in rats J. Physiol., September 1, 2007; 583(2): 455 - 467. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				X.-Q. Chen, J. Dong, C.-Y. Niu, J.-M. Fan, and J.-Z. Du Effects of Hypoxia on Glucose, Insulin, Glucagon, and Modulation by Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Receptor Type 1 in the Rat Endocrinology, July 1, 2007; 148(7): 3271 - 3278. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. P. Warne, M. T. Foster, H. F. Horneman, N. C. Pecoraro, A. B. Ginsberg, S. F. Akana, and M. F. Dallman Hepatic Branch Vagotomy, Like Insulin Replacement, Promotes Voluntary Lard Intake in Streptozotocin-Diabetic Rats Endocrinology, July 1, 2007; 148(7): 3288 - 3298. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. P. Warne, H. F. Horneman, E. C. Wick, A. Bhargava, N. C. Pecoraro, A. B. Ginsberg, S. F. Akana, and M. F. Dallman Comparison of Superior Mesenteric Versus Jugular Venous Infusions of Insulin in Streptozotocin-Diabetic Rats on the Choice of Caloric Intake, Body Weight, and Fat Stores Endocrinology, November 1, 2006; 147(11): 5443 - 5451. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Putnam, G. P. Chrousos, L. K. Nieman, and D. R. Rubinow Sex-Related Differences in Stimulated Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis during Induced Gonadal Suppression J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., July 1, 2005; 90(7): 4224 - 4231. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. E. la Fleur, H. Houshyar, M. Roy, and M. F. Dallman Choice of Lard, But Not Total Lard Calories, Damps Adrenocorticotropin Responses to Restraint Endocrinology, May 1, 2005; 146(5): 2193 - 2199. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Pecoraro, F. Reyes, F. Gomez, A. Bhargava, and M. F. Dallman Chronic Stress Promotes Palatable Feeding, which Reduces Signs of Stress: Feedforward and Feedback Effects of Chronic Stress Endocrinology, August 1, 2004; 145(8): 3754 - 3762. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. F. Dallman, S. E. la Fleur, N. C. Pecoraro, F. Gomez, H. Houshyar, and S. F. Akana Minireview: Glucocorticoids--Food Intake, Abdominal Obesity, and Wealthy Nations in 2004 Endocrinology, June 1, 2004; 145(6): 2633 - 2638. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]