Cortisol and Dexamethasone Mediate Glucocorticoid Actions in the Lesser Spotted Catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula)

Simple Summary For the first time, glucocorticoid actions of corticosteroids are evidenced in vivo and ex vivo in sharks, highlighting the importance of carbohydrate metabolism in situations of high-energy expenditure in this taxonomical group. Long-term (7 days) in vivo administration of dexamethasone (DEX, a synthetic glucocorticoid) decreased 1 alpha-hydroxycorticosterone (1 alpha-OHB, the main corticosteroid hormone in sharks), while also modified carbohydrates metabolism in liver and white muscle. Short-term (1 to 5 h) ex vivo incubation of liver and muscle explants with cortisol (corticosteroid not present in sharks) and DEX revealed glucose secretion mediated by glucocorticoid receptors (GR), as seen by the employment of mifepristone (a GR inhibitor). Corticosteroids are hormones produced in vertebrates exerting gluco- and mineralocorticoid actions (GC and MC) mediated by specific receptors (GR and MR, respectively). In elasmobranchs, the major circulating corticosteroid is the 1 alpha-hydroxycorticosterone (1 alpha-OHB). This hormone acts as a MC, but to date its role as a GC has not been established. As there is no 1 alpha-OHB standard available, here we employed a set of in vivo and ex vivo approaches to test GC actions of other corticosteroids in the lesser spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula). Dexamethasone (DEX, a synthetic corticosteroid) slow-release implants decreased plasma 1 alpha-OHB levels after 7 days, and modified carbohydrates metabolism in liver and white muscle (energy stores and metabolic enzymes). In addition, ex vivo culture of liver and white muscle explants confirmed GC actions of corticosteroids not naturally present in sharks (cortisol and DEX) by increasing glucose secretion from these tissues. Dose-response curves induced by cortisol and DEX, altogether with the use of specific GR inhibitor mifepristone, confirmed the involvement of GR mediating glucose secretion. This study highlights the influence of corticosteroids in the glucose balance of S. canicula, though the role of 1 alpha-OHB as a GC hormone in sharks should be further confirmed.

Automated summary

This study provides evidence for the glucocorticoid actions of corticosteroids in sharks, highlighting the importance of carbohydrate metabolism in situations of high-energy expenditure in this taxonomic group.