目的：糖皮质激素在肥胖及胰岛素抵抗发病机制中起着至关重要的作用。该研究旨在探讨长期抑制糖皮质激素活性对肥胖及胰岛素抵抗的防治作用。方法：采用4周龄雄性SD大鼠为动物模型，在给于高脂饲料喂养的同时，予含11β-羟甾类脱氢酶(11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase，11β-HSD) 抑制剂(glycyrrhetic acid, GE) 800 mg/L的水长期饮用至24周，并以单纯高脂饲料喂养组作为对照组，监测两组大鼠食物摄入量及体重变化。在GE应用24周后，进行口服葡萄糖耐量试验，并采用放射免疫方法检测血浆糖皮质激素、瘦素及胰岛素的水平，采用全自动生化分析仪检测血清胆固醇及甘油三脂的含量。结果： 随着GE治疗时间的延长，大鼠的食物摄入量较对照组逐渐减少，至6周时达到统计学意义，同时伴有相应的体重增长减慢，至8周时，GE 组体重明显低于对照组。治疗24周时，血浆糖皮质激素水平较对照组无明显降低，但血浆瘦素及胰岛素水平均明显低于对照组；血清胆固醇及甘油三脂的含量也明显低于对照组；口服葡萄糖耐量试验结果显示GE 组在15, 30, 60 和120分钟时的血糖水平明显低于对照组。结论：长期应用11β-羟甾类脱氢酶抑制剂能够抵抗高脂饮食诱导的肥胖及胰岛素抵抗。［中国当代儿科杂志，2007，9（3）：183-187］

OBJECTIVE: Many studies have shown that glucocorticoids play a crucial role in the development of obesity and insulin resistance. This study investigated the therapeutic effects of long-term inhibition of glucocorticoid activity on obesity and insulin resistance. METHODS: Four-week-old male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly fed with a high-fat diet (fat content accounting for 20% of total calorie) (control group, n=8) or with a high-fat diet along with glycyrrhetic acid (GE, 800 mg/L), an inhibitor of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD) for 24 weeks (GE-treated group, n=9). The body weights and the amount of food intake were monitored weekly and daily, respectively. After 24 weeks of GE treatment, oral glucose tolerance tests were performed. Blood glucose was measured by glucose oxidase method. The levels of plasma glucocorticoids, insulin and leptin were measured with radioimmunoassay. The levels of serum cholesterol and triglyceride were determined with an automatic measuring analyzer. RESULTS: The food intake amount decreased significantly in the GE-treated group from 6 weeks and body weight gain was markedly less from 8 weeks after GE administration compared with the control group. After 24 weeks of treatment, the plasma levels of leptin and insulin in GE-treated rats were significantly reduced compared with the control group. The serum levels of cholesterol and triglyceride decreased markedly compared with the control group and the levels of blood glucose were significantly lower 15, 30, 60 and 120 minutes after oral glucose load in the GE-treated group compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term GE treatment may contribute to resisting diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance.［Chin J Contemp Pediatr, 2007, 9 (3):183-187］