Effect of high-fat diet on KKAy and ob/ob mouse liver and adipose tissue corticosterone and 11-dehydrocorticosterone concentrations.

The present study was performed to compare glucocorticoid levels in obese KKA y and ob/ob mice with those in normal C57BL/6J mice, and the effect of high-fat diet on glucocorticoids in KKA y and ob/ob mice. Liver, mesenteric and epididymal adipose tissue corticosterone and 11-dehydrocorticosterone concentrations as well as circulating corticosterone concentrations were measured. The KKA y and ob/ob mice displayed elevated serum corticosterone levels compared to normal mice, 2.0 to 2.8-fold in KKA y , and 11 to 16-fold in ob/ob mice. Liver corticosterone levels were 3.0 to 5.1 and 6.2 to 8.1-fold, and 11-dehydrocorticosterone levels were 3.4 to 3.6 and 6.7 to 8.2-fold higher in KKA y and ob/ob mice compared to normal mice. Mesenteric adipose tissue corticosterone levels were 2.7 to 4.2-fold higher, and 11-dehydrocorticosterone levels were 2 to 4-fold higher in ob/ob than in KKA y mice. Epididymal adipose tissue corticosterone levels were 3.0 to 6.2-fold higher, and 11-dehydrocorticosterone levels were 1.8 to 2.0-fold higher in ob/ob than in KKA y mice. Circulating, hepatic, and mesenteric and epididymal adipose tissue glucocorticoid concentrations were low in the normal C57BL/6J mouse, high in the ob/ob mouse, and intermediate in the KKA y mouse. 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) mRNA levels were doubled in ob/ob compared to KKA y mice in all three tissues. Glucocorticoid concentrations correlated with 11β-HSD1 mRNA levels. High-fat diet had no effect on the tissue glucocorticoid concentrations.