Body composition and in vitro synthesis of lipids by adipose tissue of 11-dehydrocorticosterone-treated mice

¹ Department of Internal Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia

Compound A (11-dehydrocorticosterone) pellets implanted subcutaneously produced increased carcass fat and decreased protein in older mice but not in young mice of the DBA strain. The increased carcass fat is not the result of increased food intake or weight gain since it occurs in the face of a decreased food intake and weight loss and is associated with a decrease in spontaneous running activity. Adipose tissue of mice treated with compound A pellet implants has a greater lipid synthesis from C¹⁴-labeled acetate than that from cholesterol-treated controls. These findings lend support to the idea that compound A causes increased gluconeogenesis and increased insulin production with a resultant stimulation of fat synthesis by adipose tissue.