Abstract

The net catabolic effect of glucocorticoids on protein metabolism is well documented but the acute and chronic effect of glucocorticoids on protein breakdown remains controversial. In the present studies protein breakdown was measured by the release of tyrosine from the isolated soleus and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles of control rats and rats treated with corticosterone (10 mg/100 g body weight/day) for 5 days.

The effect of corticosterone in arresting growth was confirmed since corticosterone-treated rats weighed significantly less than control rats after 2, 3, 4 and 5 days of treatment (P<0·001). Furthermore, the weights of soleus and EDL muscles from corticosterone-treated rats were significantly reduced (P<0·001, at least P<0·05 respectively) compared with muscles from control rats on days 3–5.

In the EDL muscle tyrosine release was significantly elevated after corticosterone treatment for 2 days (257 ± 21 nmol/g tissue/h, P<0·05), 3 days (205 ± 9 nmol/g tissue/h, P<0·01), 4 days (255 ± 20 nmol/g tissue/h, P<0·005) and 5 days (218 ± 8 nmol/g tissue/h, P<0·05) compared with EDL from control rats (192 ± 13, 171 ± 7, 187 ± 7, 180 ± 12 nmol/g tissue/h respectively). In the soleus muscle, tyrosine release was significantly elevated after corticosterone treatment for 2 days (226 ± 14 nmol/g tissue/h, P<0·001), 3 days (223 ± 16 nmol/g tissue/h, P<0·001) and 4 days (199 ± 10 nmol/g tissue/h, P<0·001) compared with control rats (158 ± 7, 132 ± 6 and 153 ± 7 nmol/g tissue/h respectively). After 5 days there was no significant difference in tyrosine release from soleus muscle between corticosterone-treated (176 ± 15 nmol/g tissue/h) and control rats (157 ± 6 nmol/g tissue/h). Plasma glucose concentrations were not significantly different in rats treated with corticosterone and control rats whilst insulin levels were significantly raised in the corticosterone-treated rats on all days compared with control rats (P<0·05 on day 1; P<0·001 on days 2, 3, 4 and 5). It is suggested that insulin may have prevented hyperglycaemia developing in the corticosterone-treated rats. Results from these studies indicate that the acute effect of glucocorticoids is to increase muscle proteolysis but this is not maintained with longer-term treatment.

Journal of Endocrinology (1996) 148, 501–507

ABSTRACT

In order to investigate the effect of long-term suppression of the gonadotrophin axis in polycystic ovary syndrome, eight affected subjects were given s.c. infusions of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist buserelin for 12 weeks. Hormone measurement and ultrasound studies were carried out weekly, from 6 weeks before to 12 weeks after administration of buserelin. An overnight dexamethasone-suppression test was carried out before and after treatment.

Maximal suppression of LH to below the lower limit of that in normal subjects occurred after 6 weeks of treatment with buserelin. Plasma testosterone and androstenedione fell to normal levels during the infusion but reached pretreatment levels during the follow-up period. There was no effect of buserelin on plasma dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate or sex hormone-binding globulin. Ovarian size decreased significantly during the infusion with the disappearance of cysts in six subjects. After cessation of buserelin therapy, there was rapid and spontaneous ovulation which occurred within 3 weeks in all subjects. The results suggest that treatment with this GnRH agonist facilitates ovulation in this condition.

Journal of Endocrinology (1990) 125, 317–325