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

Enzymatic 11βhydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) amplification of glucocorticoid concentrations in adipose tissue has been associated with obesity, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular disease in humans and mice. Furthermore, it has been reported that mice that over-express 11βHSD1 activity in adipose tissue exhibit characteristics of visceral obesity and “metabolic syndrome”. Analogous to the growing problem of obesity and related problems in humans, the incidence of obesity and related problems is also present in many animal species. Three different species were tested in order to determine the existence of the enzyme 11βHSD1 in adipose tissue across species and to quantitate the activity of 11βHSD1 within species across several adipose depots. The first species tested was the feline. Six cats were each sampled from five different adipose depots: subcutaneous midline (SQM), subcutaneous inguinal (SQI), omental (OM), falciform (FAL), and retro-peritoneal (RP). Immuno-histochemistry was used to quantitate regional morphological differences and confirm the presence of 11βHSD1 in those tissues. There were significant differences (P < 0.05) in adipocyte diameter between adipose depots: SQI presented greater adipocyte diameter than FAL and OM, whereas RP presented greater adipocyte diameter than FAL, OM, and SQM. Additionally, cat 5 presented greater adipocyte diameters than cat 4 (P < 0.05). Radiometric assay procedures were used to quantitate the amount of 11β-HSD1 activity. The adipose depot SQM presented higher 11β-HSD1 activity (P < 0.05) compared to SQI, RP, and OM. Cat 5 presented higher total 11β-HSD1 activity (P <