Deleterious Effects of Supplementation with Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulphate or Dexamethasone on Rat Insulin-Secreting Cells Under In Vitro Culture Condition
Date
2006-02Author
Liu, Hui-Kang
Green, Brian D.
McClenaghan, Neville H.
McCluskey, Jane T.
Flatt, Peter R.
Metadata
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Liu, H., Green, B., McClenaghan, N., McCluskey, J. & Flatt, P. (2006) Deleterious Effects of Supplementation with Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulphate or Dexamethasone on Rat Insulin-Secreting Cells Under In Vitro Culture Condition, Bioscience Reports, vol. 26, , pp. 31-38,
Abstract
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and glucocorticoids are steroid hormones synthesised in the adrenal cortex. Administration of DHEA, its sulphate derivative, DHEAS, and more controversially dexamethasone (DEX), a synthetic glucocorticoid, have beneficial effects in diabetic animals. Cultivating BRIN-BD11 cells for 3 days with either DHEAS (30 muM) or DEX (100 nM), reduced total cell number and reduced cell viability and cellular insulin content. DHEAS-treated cells had poor glucose responsiveness and regulated insulin release, coupled with reduced basal insulin release. In contrast, DEX-treated cells lacked responsiveness to glucose and membrane depolarisation, and both protein kinase A (PKA) and protein kinase C (PKC) secretory pathways were desensitised. Therefore, we conclude that this steroid hormone and synthetic glucocorticoid are not beneficial to pancreatic beta-cells in vitro.