Additive effects of cortisol and growth hormone on regional and systemic lipolysis in humans
Abstract
Growth hormone (GH) and cortisol are important to ensure energy supplies during fasting and stress. In vitro experiments have raised the question whether GH and cortisol mutually potentiate lipolysis. In the present study, combined in vivo effects of GH and cortisol on adipose and muscle tissue were explored. Seven lean males were examined four times over 510 min. Microdialysis catheters were inserted in the vastus lateralis muscle and in the subcutaneous adipose tissue of the thigh and abdomen. A pancreatic-pituitary clamp was maintained with somatostatin infusion and replacement of GH, insulin, and glucagon at baseline levels. At t = 150 min, administration was performed of NaCl (I), a 2 μg·kg-1·min-1 hydrocortisone infusion (II), a 200-μg bolus of GH (III), or a combination of II and III (IV). Systemic free fatty acid (FFA) turnover was estimated by [9,10-3 H]palmitate appearance. Circulating levels of glucose, insulin, and glucagon were comparable in I-IV. GH levels were similar in I and II (0.50 ± 0.08 μg/l, mean ± SE). Peak levels during III and IV were ∼9 μg/l. Cortisol levels rose to ∼900 nmol/l in II and IV. Systemic (i.e., palmitate fluxes, s-FFA, s-glycerol) and regional (interstitial adipose tissue and skeletal muscle) markers of lipolysis increased in response to both II and III. In IV, they were higher and equal to the isolated additive effects of the two hormones. In conclusion, we find that GH and cortisol stimulate systemic and regional lipolysis independently and in an additive manner when coadministered. On the basis of previous studies, we speculate that the mode of action is mediated though different pathways.
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Cortisol acutely increases whole body lipolysis in vivo.
“Results from in vivo studies testing the effect of glucocorticoids on lipolysis have been more consistent, particularly when levels of other counter‐regulatory hormones have been clamped by infusing somatostatin and replacing insulin, growth hormone and glucagon (the pancreatic clamp technique), showing that cortisol acutely increases whole body lipolysis.7, 8, 9”
From Acute physiological effects of glucocorticoids on fuel metabolism in humans are permissive but not direct (2017) · cites this paper as [9]
In vivo studies using the pancreatic clamp achieved cortisol concentrations between 850 and 1500 nM, which are not reflective of physiological concentrations in the absence of acute stress.
“However, these studies achieved cortisol concentrations between 850 and 1500 nM which are not reflective of those observed physiologically in the absence of acute stress.”
From Acute physiological effects of glucocorticoids on fuel metabolism in humans are permissive but not direct (2017) · cites this paper as [9]
In these acute studies, hyperinsulinaemia was prevented by performing a pancreatic clamp with insulin infusion at basal levels.
“In these studies, hyperinsulinaemia was prevented by performing a pancreatic clamp with insulin infusion at basal levels [30, 31].”
From Low-dose glucocorticoid treatment affects multiple aspects of intermediary metabolism in healthy humans: a randomised controlled trial (2011) · cites this paper as [31]
In acute studies, cortisol infusion was shown to increase lipolysis in the fasted state.
“In acute studies, cortisol infusion was shown to increase lipolysis in the fasted state.”
From Low-dose glucocorticoid treatment affects multiple aspects of intermediary metabolism in healthy humans: a randomised controlled trial (2011) · cites this paper as [31]
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“In these studies, hyperinsulinaemia was prevented by performing a pancreatic clamp with insulin infusion at basal levels [30, 31].”
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Djurhuus, C. B., Gravholt, C. H., Nielsen, S., Pedersen, S. B., Møller, N., & Schmitz, O.
- Affiliations
- Aarhus University Hospital (DK)
- Venue
- American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism
- Publisher
- American Physiological Society
- Published
- 2004-03
- Volume
- 286
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- E488-E494
- ISSN
- 0193-1849 (ISSN-L)
- 1522-1555
- OpenAlex
- W2082503906
- Semantic Scholar
- 9f1b49cb3d46b3d09507bb5259de8d1273fce6fd
- Cited by
- 131
- References
- 43
- Citations by year
- 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 5.50
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Novo Nordisk
- Diabetesforeningen
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Growth Hormone and Insulin-like Growth Factors
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biochemistry › Lipid metabolism and biosynthesis
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
- Keywords
- growth hormone, cortisol, lipolysis, free fatty acid turnover, adipose tissue lipolysis, vastus lateralis, subcutaneous adipose tissue, glycerol, hormone synergy
- MeSH terms
- Abdomen, Adipose Tissue, Adult, Drug Synergism, Fatty Acids, Nonesterified, Glycerol, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Knee, Lipolysis, Male, Growth Hormone, Placebo Effect, Single-Blind Method, Muscle, Skeletal, Palmitic Acid
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