11 [beta]-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in feline, equine, and ossabaw swine adipose tissue

Abstract

Enzymatic 11 [beta] HSD1 amplification of glucocorticoid concentrations in adipose tissue has been associated with obesity, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular disease in humans and mice. Unfortunately, very little is known about 11 [beta] HSD1 in other species. Therefore, three species were studied to determine if 11 [beta] HSD1 activity existed in adipose tissue in a species dependent manner and if so, did the amount of enzymatic activity differ with respect to specific adipose depots within that species. Feline (carnivore): fat samples were collected from 6 cats, each sampled from 5 different adipose depots. immunohistochemically, 11 [beta] HSD1 was found in each of the adipose depots. Level of 11 [beta] HSD1 activity differed with depot and cat tested (P [less than] 0.05). Morphometric analyses revealed that adipocyte diameters differed (P [less than] .05) with adipose depot and cat, however, adipocyte volume did not correlate with level of 11 [beta] HSD1 activity. Equine (herbivore): fat samples were collected from the abdominal and subcutaneous adipose depots of 23 horses. immunohistochemically, 11 [beta] HSD1 was present in equine adipose, but level of activity did not differ with depot, nor body condition score of the horse. Porcine (omnivore): fat samples were collected from abdominal and subcutaneous adipose depots from 8 Ossabaw pigs. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed the presence of 11 [beta] HSD1 in porcine, but the level of activity did not differ between tissue depots.