Effects of hormones and hypoglycemic agents on testicular fat in the rat

¹ Experimental Therapeutics Research, Lederle Laboratories, Pearl River, New York

Response of transplanted and nontransplanted fat bodies to various hormones, tolbutamide, and hypoglycin A was compared by measuring the amount of lipids in the dissected fat bodies after 2 weeks treatment. Simultaneous measurements of food intake and body weight were made to serve as a basis for evaluating the effects on fat. Protamine zinc insulin produced an increase in lipid content of the testicular fat body, accompanied by elevation in food intake in three of five experiments; hydrocortisone acetate, triamcinolone or its 16,21-diacetate, or diethylstilbestrol brought about decreases in lipid with either no change or a decline in food intake; epinephrine·HCl or growth hormone elicited decreases in lipid without significantly influencing food intake or body weight. Generally, transplanted fat was more responsive to these agents than the undisturbed fat body. Both tolbutamide and hypoglycin A decreased lipids in the transplant without affecting those in untransplanted fat. Food intake, body weight, and blood glucose were not changed.