The effects of adrenal androgens on glucose metabolism of genetically diabetic mice (db/db) -differences between dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and DHEA sulfate (DHEA-S)-

We investigated the effects of DHEA and DHEA-S on glucose metabolism using diabetic mice db/db in vivo. The DHEA-S-treated mice showed more prominent hepatomegaly and a greater decrease of the serum glucose level than DHEA-treated mice. These preliminary data suggest that DHEA-S has a stronger hypoglycemic effect than DHEA, or even that the hypoglycemic effect may be due to DHEA-S, rather than DHEA. The modes of action of DHEA and DHEA-S in diabetic mice should be evaluated from the perspective that these steroids have distinct effects, that can contribute to clarifying the basic pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus

Myotubular/centronuclear myopathy and central core disease

The term congenital myopathy is applied to muscle disorders presenting with generalized muscle weakness and hypotonia from early infancy with delayed developmental milestones. The congenital myopathies have been classified into various categories based on morphological findings on muscle biopsy. Although the clinical symptoms may seem homogenous, the genetic basis is remarkably variable. This review will focus on myotubular myopathy, centronuclear myopathy, central core disease, and congenital neuromuscular disease with uniform Type 1 fiber, myopathies that are subjects of our ongoing examinations