Plasma leptin levels do not change in healthy humans shortly after a hydrocortisone challenge

The acute response of plasma leptin levels to a hydrocortisone challenge wa s measured in 16 healthy volunteers. We additionally asessed insulin which is known to play a regulatory role in the leptin system. While plasma corti sol levels increased significantly after the administration of hydrocortiso ne, this rise was not associated with any change in leptin and insulin conc entrations during the 3.5-hour experimental period. This result corroborate s the assumption that glucocorticoid-induced increases in leptin levels, as described in the literature, occur delayed and are due rather to an activa tion of leptin synthesis than to a mere leptin release.