Activity of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in the adrenal glands, liver, and kidneys of rats with experimental diabetes.

We studied activity of the key enzyme of the pre-receptor metabolism of glucocorticoid hormones, 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, in rat adrenal glands, renal cortex and liver in the course of development of alloxan diabetes (9, 20, and 28 day). The enzyme activity was increased 3-4 fold in the adrenal glands throughout the experiment. At the same time, according to the adrenal gland level of corticosterone, its precursor 11-deoxycorticosterone and reversible metabolite 11-dehydrocorticosterone, activity of the second isoform of the enzyme dominated at the early stages of diabetes, and that of the first isoform, at later stages. In long-term diabetes (28 days), along with reduced synthesis of corticosterone and production of 11-dehydrocorticosterone in the adrenal glands, the extra-adrenal formation of corticosterone was activated as indicated by enhanced activity of the first isoform in the liver and that of the second isoform in the kidneys. These changes in activity of the enzyme isoforms promote local formation of corticosterone from its reversible metabolite in the liver and persisting hyperglycemia in diabetes.

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