Fetal androgen signaling defects affect β-cell mass and function, leading to glucose intolerance in high-fat diet-fed male rats.

Fetal androgen signaling defects affect β-cell mass and function, leading to glucose intolerance in high-fat diet-fed male rats. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2019 Jul 09;: Authors: Harada N, Yotsumoto Y, Katsuki T, Yoda Y, Masuda T, Nomura M, Shiraki N, Inui H, Yamaji R Abstract We have previously demonstrated that androgen signaling expands pancreatic β-cell mass in the sexual maturation period. The aim of this study is to elucidate whether fetal androgen signaling plays important roles in β-cell mass development and β-cell function in adulthood, defects of which are associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus. In the pancreas of male fetuses, androgen receptor (AR) was strongly expressed in the cytoplasm and at the cell membrane of Nkx6.1-positive β-cell precursor cells but was markedly reduced in insulin-positive β-cells. Administration of the antiandrogen flutamide to pregnant dams during late gestation reduced β-cell mass and Ki67-positive proliferating β-cells at birth in a male-specific manner without affecting body weight. The decrease of β-cell mass in flutamide-exposed male rats was not recovered when rats were fed a standard diet, whereas it was fully recovered when rats were fed a high-fat diet (HFD), at 6 and 12 wk of age. Flutamide exposure in utero led to the development of glucose intolerance in male rats due to decrease in insulin secretion when fed HFD, but not standard diet. Insulin sensitivity did not diff...
Source: American Journal of Physiology. Endocrinology and Metabolism - Category: Physiology Authors: Tags: Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab Source Type: research