Diabetes
55:978-987,
2006
DOI: 10.2337/diabetes.55.04.06.db05-1339
© 2006 by the American Diabetes Association
Gonadal Hormones Determine Sensitivity to Central Leptin and Insulin
Deborah J. Clegg,
Lynda M. Brown,
Stephen C. Woods, and
Stephen C. Benoit
Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Deborah J. Clegg, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati, PO Box 670559, Cincinatti, OH 45267-0559. E-mail: debbie.clegg{at}uc.edu
Abbreviations:
ER, estrogen receptor; GAPDH, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; i3vt, third cerebral ventricle; OB-Rb, long-form leptin receptor; OVX, ovariectomy; NMR, nuclear magnetic resonance; VMN, ventromedial nucleus
Males have proportionally more visceral fat and are more likely to develop complications associated with obesity than females, and the male brain is relatively more sensitive to the catabolic action of insulin and less sensitive to that of leptin than the female brain. To understand the underlying mechanism, we manipulated estrogen through ovariectomy (OVX) and estradiol administration. Rats with relatively high systemic estrogen (intact females and OVX females and males administered estrogen subcutaneously) were significantly more sensitive to leptins anorexic action in the brain (i3vt), as well as significantly less sensitive to insulins i3vt action, than intact males. Administering estradiol directly into the brain of our females increased i3vt leptin sensitivity while decreasing i3vt insulin sensitivity and changed the body fat distribution of our females to resemble that of intact females. These data indicate that estrogen acts within the brain to increase leptin sensitivity, decrease insulin sensitivity, and favor subcutaneous over visceral fat.

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Copyright © 2006 by the American Diabetes Association.
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