Fig. 2

Glucose homeostasis in 7-week-old db/db mice was exacerbated by castration at 4 weeks of age, but was ameliorated by supplementation with testosterone. a IpGTT analysis in db/db male mice treated with castration, castration and testosterone (T) supplementation, or sham operation (n = 9–12/group). The area under the curve (AUC glucose) is shown in the right panel. T replacement significantly alleviated the exacerbation of glucose tolerance in castrated db/db mice. b IpITT analysis in 7-week-old mice in each group (n = 10–13/group) as indicated. Blood glucose levels 120 min after loading insulin were significantly higher in castrated than in sham operated mice, and showed a tendency to recover in the T replacement group. c Body weights of 7-week-old db/db mice in each group (sham operated, sham operated + T supplemented, castrated, or castrated + T supplemented mice; n = 10/group). The weight of epididymal fat from mice in each group is shown in the bottom panel as indicated. No significant difference was observed between the groups. d Fasting plasma insulin levels in each mouse (n = 12–14/group). Results are expressed as means ± s.e.m. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 versus the other groups of mice. ^§P < 0.05, ^#P < 0.01 versus castrated + T supplemented mice at each time. ^†P < 0.01 versus sham operated or sham operated + T supplemented mice at each time, 2-way ANOVA. n.s., no significant