Exogenous Testosterone Stimulates Gluconeogenesis In Hypoproteinemic Albino Rat

Abstract

Changes in plasma glucose and protein concentrations in two experimental groups of albino rats, weghing 250 - 300g, were evaluated after 7 days of acclmatzaton to laboratory conditons and another 14 days o feeding the rats wth low protein diets. Frank hypoproeinmia was evident by the low plasma protein levels and some clear physical manifestations, such as hair loss, change in skin colour and edema. Edema was caused by lowered plasma protein concentrations. Daily intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of 0.2 ml of testosterone for a period of 7 days produced a statistcally sgnificant increase in plasma glucose concentrations (P < 0.01) when compared with the saline-treated controls. There wasa statistically significant decrease (P <0.05) in total proteinconcentrations in testosterone injected hypoproteinemic rats when compared with the control ratsThese findings suggest that testosterone, in addition to its anabolic function of protein build up in muscles, may also be involved in gluconeogenesis, the formation of plasma glucose from non-carbohydrate substrates. Apparently, the hypoproeinemic rats require enough glucose to survive since glucose is the only source of energy for the mammalian brain. The mechanism of action of steroid hormones on target organ cells, and the role of testosterone as a performance enhancing drug are discussed.

Keywords: Exogenous testosterone, Protein, Glucose, Gluconeogenesis, Hypoproteinemic rat

Animal Research International Vol. 4 (1) 2007 pp. 597-600