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Insulin sensitivity in male sheep born to ewes treated with testosterone during pregnancy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 July 2020

Albert Carrasco Open the ORCID record for Albert Carrasco [Opens in a new window] ,
Mónica P. Recabarren ,
Pedro P. Rojas-García ,
Nelson Silva ,
Jonathan Fuenzalida ,
Teresa Sir-Petermann  and
Sergio E. Recabarren
Albert Carrasco*
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Animal Physiology and Endocrinology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
Mónica P. Recabarren
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Animal Physiology and Endocrinology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
Pedro P. Rojas-García
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Animal Physiology and Endocrinology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
Nelson Silva
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Animal Physiology and Endocrinology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
Jonathan Fuenzalida
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Animal Physiology and Endocrinology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
Teresa Sir-Petermann
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Western School of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
Sergio E. Recabarren
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Animal Physiology and Endocrinology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
*
Address for correspondence: Albert Carrasco, Laboratory of Animal Physiology and Endocrinology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad de Concepción, Avenida Vicente Méndez 595, Chillán, Chile. Email: acarrasc@udec.cl
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Abstract

In animal models, exposure to excess testosterone during gestation induces polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)-like reproductive and metabolic traits in female offspring, suggesting that the hyperandrogenemic intrauterine environment may have a role in the etiology of PCOS. Additionally, few studies have also addressed metabolic and reproductive outcomes in male offspring. In the present study, the intravenous glucose tolerance test (IGTT) was used to assess the insulin–glucose homeostasis at various ages during sexual development in male sheep born to testosterone-treated ewes. To further analyze the programming effect of testosterone on insulin–glucose homeostasis, indexes of insulin sensitivity were assessed in orchidectomized post-pubertal males born to testosterone-treated ewes (Torq-males) and orchidectomized post-puberal controls (Corq-males) before and 48 h after a testosterone injection. There was no difference in insulin sensitivity indexes between males born to testosterone-treated ewes (T-males) and control males born to control ewes (C-males) at 5, 10, 20 and 30 weeks of age, representing the infantile, early and late pre-pubertal, and early post-pubertal stage of sexual development, respectively. In orchidectomized males, basal levels of insulin and glucose were not different between both groups before and after the testosterone injection; however, Torq-males released more insulin before and after T challenge during the first 20 min of the test. Despite this, plasma glucose concentrations were not different in both groups during IVGTT, resulting in an insulin sensitivity index composite similar between groups. We concluded that the effect of prenatal exposure to excess testosterone may reprogram the pancreatic β-cells insulin release in ovine males, with effects more evident in castrated males versus intact males.

Keywords

insulin sensitivityPCOSfetal programming
Type
Original Article
Information
Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease , Volume 12 , Issue 3 , June 2021 , pp. 456 - 464
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press in association with International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease

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