Obesity- and gender-dependent role of endogenous somatostatin and cortistatin in the regulation of endocrine and metabolic homeostasis in mice

Sci Rep. 2016 Nov 30:6:37992. doi: 10.1038/srep37992.

Abstract

Somatostatin (SST) and cortistatin (CORT) regulate numerous endocrine secretions and their absence [knockout (KO)-models] causes important endocrine-metabolic alterations, including pituitary dysregulations. We have demonstrated that the metabolic phenotype of single or combined SST/CORT KO-models is not drastically altered under normal conditions. However, the biological actions of SST/CORT are conditioned by the metabolic-status (e.g. obesity). Therefore, we used male/female SST- and CORT-KO mice fed low-fat (LF) or high-fat (HF) diet to explore the interplay between SST/CORT and obesity in the control of relevant pituitary-axes and whole-body metabolism. Our results showed that the SST/CORT role in the control of GH/prolactin secretions is maintained under LF- and HF-diet conditions as SST-KOs presented higher GH/prolactin-levels, while CORT-KOs displayed higher GH- and lower prolactin-levels than controls under both diets. Moreover, the impact of lack of SST/CORT on the metabolic-function was gender- and diet-dependent. Particularly, SST-KOs were more sensitive to HF-diet, exhibiting altered growth and body-composition (fat/lean percentage) and impaired glucose/insulin-metabolism, especially in males. Conversely, only males CORT-KO under LF-diet conditions exhibited significant alterations, displaying higher glucose-levels and insulin-resistance. Altogether, these data demonstrate a tight interplay between SST/CORT-axis and the metabolic status in the control of endocrine/metabolic functions and unveil a clear dissociation of SST/CORT roles.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dietary Fats / adverse effects*
  • Dietary Fats / pharmacology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Homeostasis*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Neuropeptides / genetics
  • Neuropeptides / metabolism*
  • Obesity / chemically induced
  • Obesity / genetics
  • Obesity / metabolism*
  • Obesity / pathology
  • Pituitary Gland / metabolism*
  • Pituitary Gland / pathology
  • Sex Characteristics*
  • Somatostatin / genetics
  • Somatostatin / metabolism*

Substances

  • Dietary Fats
  • Neuropeptides
  • cortistatin
  • Somatostatin