Characteristics of glucocorticoid synthesis-related factors in the adrenals of obese Zucker rats (Short communication)

To understand the molecular mechanism of hyperglucocorticoidism in obese Zucker rats, this study investigated glucocorticoid synthesis-related factors and their transcription factors in the adrenals. glucocorticoid synthesis-related factors and their transcription factors in the adrenals. The serum corticosterone level after foot shock stress was higher in obese Zucker rats than in lean Zucker rats. after foot shock stress was higher in obese Zucker rats than in lean Zucker rats. In the adrenals from obese Zucker rats, the mRNA and protein levels of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein were higher than those from lean Zucker rats. rats. However, the mRNA level of steroidogenic factor-1(SF-1), an important transcription factor for these glucocorticoid synthesis-related factors, did not differ between lean and obese Zucker rats. glucocorticoid synthesis-related factors, did not differ between lean and obese Zucker rats. Focusing on leptin signal transduction, Akt phosphorylation, which was known to inhibit glucocorticoid secretion, decreased in the adrenals from obese Zucker rats. from obese Zucker rats. We found that the stress-induced glucocorticoid secretion and the glucocorticoid synthesisrelated factors in the adrenals were increased in obese Zucker rats. factors in the adrenals were increased in obese Zucker rats. The decrease of Akt phosphorylation in the adrenals might induce these increases in obese Zucker rats.adrenals might induce these increases in obese Zucker rats