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