THE EFFECT OF DHEA GIVEN CHRONICALLY TO ZUCKER RATS

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) has been reported to exert antiglucocort icoid activity. When administered to obese, hypercorticosteronemic Zuc ker rats, it causes a diminution of food intake and a reduction in the ir rate of weight gain. This experiment was conducted to evaluate whet her this biologic effect could be ascribed to chronic adrenal insuffic iency. Obese and lean Zucker rats were treated with DHEA as a food sup plement for 28 days. Upon sacrifice, organ weights and serum chemistri es were measured, along with neurotransmitter levels In regions of the hypothalamus. Results showed that although the obese animals gained w eight more slowly, had lower insulin levels, and ate less, their serum glucose, corticosterone, and ACTH levels were not different from cont rol. Hypothalamic neurotransmitters in the obese rat were unaffected b y chronic UREA treatment. We concluded that, although DHEA clearly aff ects Zucker weight gain, it does not induce chronic adrenal insufficie ncy.