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Biomedical subjects

L Rossetti

Publications and source records attributed to L Rossetti.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Mechanism by which calcitonin gene-related peptide antagonizes insulin action in vivo.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a peptide with structural homology to amylin, which is present in nerve terminals of skeletal muscle and intestine. The effect of this peptide on in vivo insulin action was studied in conscious rats. All rats received 180 min euglycemic (5.6 mM) insulin (21.5 pmol.kg-1.min-1) clamp study in combination with [3-3H]- and [U-14C]glucose infusions. In the basal state, the plasma CGRP concentration was 36 +/- 5 pM, and the skeletal muscle CGRP concentration was 376 +/- 88 pmol/kg wet wt. CGRP was infused at 100 pmol.kg-1.min-1 during the last 90 min of the insulin clamp study and determined a rise in plasma concentration to 781 +/- 34 pM. Hepatic glucose production was stimulated by the infusion of CGRP (35.6 +/- 6.1 vs. 24.4 +/- 4.4 mumol.kg-1.min-1). During infusion in insulin alone, glucose uptake was 133.3 +/- 8.9 mumol.kg-1.min-1 and decreased to 105.5 +/- 12.2 mumol.kg-1.min-1 with CGRP. However, the whole body rates of glycolysis (3H2O generation) were higher during the infusion of CGRP (83.9 +/- 6.1 mumol.kg-1.min-1) compared with insulin alone (72.2 +/- 7.8 mumol.kg-1.min-1). By contrast, CGRP determined a severe impairment in muscle glycogen synthesis (11.7 +/- 3.9 vs. 47.8 +/- 5.0 mumol.kg-1.min-1). Skeletal muscle glucose 6-phosphate concentration was significantly increased after CGRP infusion compared with insulin alone (0.540 +/- 0.052 vs. 0.219 +/- 0.038 mumol/g wet wt; P less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Differential effect of hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia on pathways of hepatic glycogen repletion.

To delineate the roles of hyperglycemia and insulin on the direct vs. indirect pathways of liver glycogen synthesis, we performed euglycemic (group I; n = 8), hyperglycemic (group II; n = 9), and euglycemic pharmacological hyperinsulinemic clamp studies (120 min) with an infusion of [1-13C]glucose in chronically catheterized conscious rats after a 24-h fast. Portal vein plasma glucose concentrations and portal vein plasma insulin concentrations, respectively, obtained at the end of the study in groups I-III were as follows: group I 110 +/- 4 mg/dl, 29 +/- 7 ng/ml; group II 219 +/- 7 mg/dl, 24 +/- 7 ng/ml; and group III 112 +/- 9 mg/dl, 174 +/- 25 ng/ml. Mean liver glycogen concentrations at the end of the three studies were 0.68 +/- 0.07, 1.22 +/- 0.08 (P less than 0.001 compared with groups I and III), and 0.60 +/- 0.17 g/100 g wet wt liver in groups I-III respectively, which yielded hepatic glycogen synthetic rates of 0.16 +/- 0.03, 0.41 +/- 0.04 (P less than 0.001 compared with groups I and III), and 0.13 +/- 0.08 mumol glucosyl U.g liver-1.min-1 in groups I-III, respectively. From the enrichments of 13C in the C-1 and C-6 positions of the glucosyl unit in glycogen compared with the enrichment in the C-1 position in portal vein glucose as determined by 13C- and 1H-NMR, the amount of glycogen synthesized by the direct pathway was calculated to be 18 +/- 2, 41 +/- 3 (P less than 0.0001 compared with groups I and III), and 17 +/- 3% in groups I-III, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Normalization of blood glucose in diabetic rats with phlorizin treatment reverses insulin-resistant glucose transport in adipose cells without restoring glucose transporter gene expression.

Evidence is emerging for a direct role of glucose, independent of changes in insulin, in the regulation of cellular glucose transport and glucose utilization in vivo. In this study we investigate potential cellular and molecular mechanisms for this regulatory effect of glucose by determining how normalization of glycemia without insulin therapy in diabetic rats influences 3-O-methylglucose transport and the expression and translocation of two genetically distinct species of glucose transporters (GTs) in adipose cells. These results are compared with alterations in glucose disposal in vivo measured by euglycemic clamp. In rats rendered diabetic by 90% pancreatectomy, insulin-stimulated glucose transport in adipose cells is decreased 50% in parallel with reduced insulin-mediated glucose disposal in vivo. Levels of adipose/muscle GTs measured by immunoblotting are decreased in adipose cell subcellular membrane fractions, as are the corresponding mRNA levels assessed by Northern blotting of total adipose cell RNA. Normalization of blood glucose in diabetic rats with phlorizin, which impairs renal tubular glucose reabsorption and thus enhances glucose excretion, restores insulin-stimulated glucose transport in adipose cells and insulin-mediated glucose disposal in vivo. Importantly, levels of the adipose/muscle GT protein remain 43% reduced in the low-density microsomes in the basal state and 46% reduced in the plasma membranes in the insulin-stimulated state. Adipose/muscle GT mRNA levels remain approximately 50% depressed. Levels of the HepG2/brain GT protein and mRNA are unaltered by diabetes or phlorizin treatment. Thus, changes in ambient glucose independent of changes in ambient insulin can regulate the glucose transport response to insulin in isolated adipose cells and changes in responsiveness parallel alterations in glucose uptake in vivo. Since this effect can occur without alteration in the expression of the two species of glucose transporters present in adipose cells or in their translocation to the plasma membrane in response to insulin, it may result from changes in GT functional activity.

Adipose Tissue↗

Decreased in vivo glucose uptake but normal expression of GLUT1 and GLUT4 in skeletal muscle of diabetic rats.

This study was designed to determine whether altered glucose transporter expression is essential for the in vivo insulin-resistant glucose uptake characteristic of streptozocin-induced diabetes. Immunofluorescence in rat skeletal muscle colocalizes GLUT4 with dystrophin, both intrinsic to muscle fibers. In contrast, GLUT1 is extrinsic to muscle fibers, probably in perineurial sheath. Immunoblotting shows that levels of GLUT1 and GLUT4 protein per DNA in hindlimb muscle are unaltered from control levels at 7 d of diabetes but decrease to approximately 20% of control at 14 d of diabetes. This decrease is prevented by insulin treatment. In adipose cells of 7 d diabetic rats, GLUT4 levels are depressed. Thus, GLUT4 undergoes tissue-specific regulation in response to diabetes. GLUT4 and GLUT1 mRNA levels in muscle are decreased 62-70% at both 7 and 14 d of diabetes and are restored by insulin treatment. At 7 d of diabetes, when GLUT4 protein levels in muscle are unaltered, in vivo insulin-stimulated glucose uptake measured by euglycemic clamp is 54% of control. This reflects impairment in both glycogen synthesis and glycolysis and the substrate common to these two pathways, glucose-6-phosphate, is decreased approximately 30% in muscle of diabetic rats. These findings suggest a defect early in the pathway of glucose utilization, probably at the step of glucose transport. Because GLUT1 and GLUT4 levels are unaltered at 7 d of diabetes, reduced glucose uptake in muscle probably reflects impaired glucose transporter translocation or intrinsic activity. Later, at 14 d of diabetes, GLUT1 and GLUT4 protein levels are reduced, suggesting that sequential defects may contribute to the insulin-resistant glucose transport characteristic of diabetes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Metabolic effects of IGF-I in diabetic rats.

Insulinlike growth factor I (IGF-I) stimulates glucose utilization (GU) in nondiabetic rats. We compared the effects of IGF-I and insulin on glucose metabolism in control (fed plasma glucose 7.7 +/- 0.1 mM, n = 30) and partially (90%) pancreatectomized diabetic (plasma glucose 18.4 +/- 0.8 mM, n = 30) awake unstressed rats. IGF-I was infused at 0.65 or 1.96 nmol.kg-1.min-1 and insulin at 22 or 29 pmol.kg-1.min-1 in combination with [3-3H]glucose while euglycemia was maintained by a variable glucose infusion. In controls, GU during the 0.65- and 1.96-nmol.kg-1.min-1 IGF-I infusions (127 +/- 7 and 168 +/- 4 mumol.kg-1.min-1, respectively) was similar to rates observed during the 22- and 29-pmol.kg-1.min-1 insulin infusions (121 +/- 2 and 156 +/- 5 mumol.kg-1.min-1). Whole-body glycolytic rate (3H2O generation) and muscle glycogen synthetic rate were identical during insulin and IGF-I infusions. In diabetic rats, GU was reduced by 30% versus control rats (P less than 0.01) during both the low-dose (88 +/- 7 vs. 121 +/- 7 mumol.kg-1.min-1) and higher-dose (109 +/- 4 vs. 156 +/- 5 mumol.kg-1.min-1) insulin clamps. The defect in insulin action involved both muscle glycogen synthesis and glycolysis. In diabetic rats, IGF-I elicited rates of GU similar to controls (115 +/- 10 and 164 +/- 12 mumol.kg-1.min-1 during the 0.65- and 1.96-nmol.kg-1.min-1 infusions, respectively) and corrected the intracellular defects in glycogen synthesis and glycolysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

In vivo insulin resistance induced by amylin primarily through inhibition of insulin-stimulated glycogen synthesis in skeletal muscle.

We examined the in vivo mechanisms of amylin-induced resistance in concious rats (n = 18). During 180-min euglycemic insulin-clamp (21.5 pmol.kg-1.min-1) studies, amylin (50, 200, or 500 pmol.kg-1.min-1; plasma concentration from 3 x 10(-10) to 9 x 10(-9) M) infusion determined a 19-27% reduction in glucose uptake (117.8 +/- 7.0 vs. 145.8 +/- 11.0, 107.1 +/- 9.2 vs. 145.1 +/- 6.7, and 105.0 +/- 7.2 vs. 144.4 +/- 7.0 mumol.kg-1.min-1 at 50, 200, or 500 pmol.kg-1.min-1, respectively, P less than 0.01) versus insulin alone, whereas 10-pmol.kg-1.min-1 amylin infusion (plasma concn 5 x 10(-11) M) failed to affect insulin-mediated glucose disposal. After amylin infusion, the contribution of whole-body glycolysis to overall glucose disposal increased from 43-48 to 62-79%, whereas muscle glycogen synthesis decreased significantly at all peptide concentrations greater than 3 x 10(-10) M, completely accounting for the decrease in glucose uptake. Skeletal muscle glucose-6-phosphate concentration rose from 0.219 +/- 0.038 mumol/g (insulin alone) to 0.350 +/- 0.018, 0.440 +/- 0.020, and 0.505 +/- 0.035 mumol/g (insulin plus amylin at 50, 200, or 500 pmol.kg-1.min-1, P less than 0.01). Suppression of hepatic glucose production by insulin was unaffected by a 50-pmol.kg-1.min-1 amylin infusion (18.5 +/- 4.3 vs. 21.7 +/- 2.9 mumol.kg-1.min-1), whereas it was slightly but significantly impaired by amylin infusion at 200 pmol.kg-1.min-1 (17.8 +/- 3.9 vs. 24.7 +/- 4.5 mumol.kg-1.min-1, P less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amyloid↗

Communication assessment. Birth to 36 months.

A comprehensive developmental evaluation of children under 3 years of age cannot be accomplished without assessing preverbal and verbal aspects of language functioning. All members of the early intervention team, not only the speech-language pathologist, must be knowledgeable about techniques for observing and measuring communicative ability. If we are to improve our ability to identify, at an early age, those who display or are at risk of displaying a communicative pathology, we must direct increased attention toward effective techniques and materials for assessing communicative ability for children under 3 years of age. Clinicians must become familiar with the developmental expectations and performance of various categories of at-risk and handicapped children to enhance case finding and intervention-oriented activities. The efficacy of early intervention is highly dependent on age of identification and degree of family involvement. Clearly, age of identification can be improved upon as effective means of communication assessment for children under 3 are established.

Child, Preschool↗

Effect of metformin treatment on insulin action in diabetic rats: in vivo and in vitro correlations.

The mechanism (both at the whole body and cellular level) by which metformin improves insulin sensitivity has yet to be defined. In the present study, we examined in vivo insulin-mediated whole-body glucose disposal, glycogen synthesis, hepatic glucose production, and insulin secretion, as well as in vitro muscle insulin receptor tyrosine kinase activity in eight control, eight neonatal streptozotocin diabetic rats, and eight diabetic rats before and after treatment with metformin. Ten weeks after birth diabetic rats had higher fasting (132 + 5 v 101 + 2 mg/dL) and postmeal (231 + 10 v 133 + 3) plasma glucose levels compared with controls (P less than .001). Metformin treatment was followed by a significant decrease in the growth rate and normalized glucose tolerance without enhancing the deficient insulin response. Insulin-mediated glucose uptake in diabetic versus control rats was reduced (P less than .01) during the high-dose (15.4 + 0.6 v 18.3 + 1.0 mg/kg.min) insulin clamp study and was increased to values greater (P less than .05) than controls following metformin treatment. Muscle glycogen synthetic rate in vivo, measured by incorporation of 3H-3-glucose radioactivity, was diminished by 25% (P less than .01) in diabetic rats, restored to normal values with metformin, and correlated closely (r = .82, P less than .002) with total-body glucose uptake during the insulin clamp in all three groups. Insulin receptor tyrosine kinase activity, measured in partially purified insulin receptors, was reduced in diabetic rats and increased to supernormal levels after metformin. The decrease in muscle tyrosine kinase activity in diabetic versus control animals was entirely accounted for by a reduction in maximal velocity (Vmax) (32 v 45 pmol/mg.min, P less than .01) and increased to supernormal levels following metformin (91 pmol/mg.min, P less than .001) without any change in affinity (Km). Muscle tyrosine kinase activity was closely correlated with both the muscle glycogen synthetic rate (r = .82, P less than .002) and total-body insulin-mediated glucose disposal (r = .64, P less than .01) in vivo. The close correlation between in vivo insulin action, muscle glycogen synthesis, and muscle insulin receptor tyrosine kinase activity is consistent with an important role of the enzyme in the insulin resistance of diabetes and its improvement following metformin treatment.

Animals↗

Relative contribution of glycogen synthesis and glycolysis to insulin-mediated glucose uptake. A dose-response euglycemic clamp study in normal and diabetic rats.

To examine the relationship between plasma insulin concentration and intracellular glucose metabolism in control and diabetic rats, we measured endogenous glucose production, glucose uptake, whole body glycolysis, muscle and liver glycogen synthesis, and rectus muscle glucose-6-phosphate (G-6-P) concentration basally and during the infusion of 2, 3, 4, 12, and 18 mU/kg.min of insulin. The contribution of glycolysis decreased and that of muscle glycogen synthesis increased as the insulin levels rose. Insulin-mediated glucose disposal was decreased by 20-30% throughout the insulin dose-response curve in diabetics compared with controls. While at low insulin infusions (2 and 3 mU/kg.min) reductions in both the glycolytic and glycogenic fluxes contributed to the defective tissue glucose uptake in diabetic rats, at the three higher insulin doses the impairment in muscle glycogen repletion accounted for all of the difference between diabetic and control rats. The muscle G-6-P concentration was decreased (208 +/- 11 vs. 267 +/- 18 nmol/g wet wt; P less than 0.01) compared with saline at the lower insulin infusion, but was gradually increased twofold (530 +/- 16; P less than 0.01 vs. basal) as the insulin concentration rose. The G-6-P concentration in diabetic rats was similar to control despite the reduction in glucose uptake. These data suggest that (a) glucose transport is the major determinant of glucose disposal at low insulin concentration, while the rate-limiting step shifts to an intracellular site at high physiological insulin concentration; and (b) prolonged moderate hyperglycemia and hypoinsulinemia determine two distinct cellular defects in skeletal muscle at the levels of glucose transport/phosphorylation and glycogen synthesis.

Animals↗

Chronic in vivo hyperglycemia impairs phosphoinositide hydrolysis and insulin release in isolated perifused rat islets.

We examined the effect of chronic hyperglycemia on phosphoinositide hydrolysis and insulin secretion in isolated perifused rat islets. Rats were infused for 44 h with 40% dextrose in order to raise and maintain the plasma glucose concentration at 350 mg/dl. Control animals were infused with equiosmolar amounts of mannitol. In vivo insulin secretion and rats of glucose disposal were monitored throughout the study. At the end of the infusion, islets were collagenase isolated, and phosphoinositide (PI) hydrolysis (assessed by measuring the increment in [3H]inositol efflux as well as labeled inositol phosphates) and insulin output in response to a 20-mM glucose challenge were quantitated. Plasma insulin concentration and in vivo glucose disposal rates decreased significantly, by 47% and 35% respectively, after 6-8 h of hyperglycemia. In islets perifused immediately after isolation, prior in vivo hyperglycemia markedly altered the pattern of insulin output in response to 20-mM glucose challenge. Compared to mannitol infusion, 20 mM glucose stimulation resulted in an exaggerated first phase insulin secretory response (1121 +/- 88 vs. 467 +/- 75 pg/islets.min) and a blunted second phase insulin secretory response (392 +/- 90 vs. 1249 +/- 205 pg/islet.min). In islets prelabeled with myo-[2-3H]inositol for 2 h, PI hydrolysis, particularly [3H]inositol efflux in response to glucose stimulation was also reduced (0.28 +/- 0.03%/min) compared to that in mannitol-infused animals (0.53 +/- 0.08%/min). Two hours of preincubation in a low glucose medium (2.75 mM) were able to completely reverse the islet defect in both PI hydrolysis and insulin secretion. Our results demonstrate that chronic in vivo hyperglycemia impairs PI hydrolysis in perifused rat islets and suggest that this defect accounts in part for the abnormal pattern of glucose-induced insulin secretion.

Animals↗

Effect of in vivo vanadate treatment on insulin receptor tyrosine kinase activity in partially pancreatectomized diabetic rats.

Liver-purified insulin receptor tyrosine kinase (IRTK) activity was examined in partially pancreatectomized rats following normalization of blood glucose concentration by either phlorizin or vanadate treatment. Chronic moderate hyperglycemia did not modify the IRTK activity, despite the presence of in vivo and in vitro insulin resistance. Oral vanadate administration for 3 weeks normalized glucose tolerance and caused a 2.5-fold increase in basal IRTK activity. In contrast, correction of hyperglycemia with phlorizin, an inhibitor of renal glucose reabsorption, did not change the IRTK activity, although glucose tolerance was returned to normal. The vanadate-induced effect on basal IRTK was due to an increase in Vmax of the enzyme; the Km remained unchanged. The insulin-stimulated IRTK activity was not affected by either vanadate or phlorizin treatment. These results suggest that: 1) partial (90%) pancreatectomy in rats causes insulin resistance in the absence of in vitro alterations in IRTK and 2) correction of chronic hyperglycemia with vanadate, but not with phlorizin, is associated with an increased basal activation of the protein tyrosine kinase in liver insulin receptors.

Animals↗

Insulinomimetic properties of trace elements and characterization of their in vivo mode of action.

Lithium and vanadate have insulinomimetic actions in vitro. In this study, we examined the in vivo effects of lithium and vanadate on glucose metabolism in diabetic (90% partial pancreatectomy) rats. Four groups of chronically catheterized rats were studied: control, diabetic, diabetic treated with lithium (plasma concn 1.0 +/- 0.1 meq/L) and vanadate (0.05 mg/ml in drinking water), and diabetic treated with lithium, vanadate, zinc, and magnesium. Postmeal plasma glucose was increased in diabetic versus control rats (18.7 vs. 7.7 mM, P less than 0.01) and was normalized by addition of lithium and vanadate (8 mM) or lithium, vanadate, zinc, and magnesium (7.4 mM). Euglycemic insulin-clamp studies were performed 2 wk posttreatment; insulin-mediated glucose uptake was reduced in diabetic compared with control rats (142 +/- 4 vs. 200 +/- 5 mumol.kg-1.min-1, P less than 0.01), returned to normal with lithium and vanadate (206 +/- 6 mumol.kg-1.min-1), or increased to supranormal levels with lithium, vanadate, zinc, and magnesium (238 +/- 6 mumol.kg-1.min-1). During the insulin clamp, muscle glycogenic rate was severely impaired in diabetic versus control rats (18 vs. 70 mumol.kg-1.min-1) and was normalized by lithium and vanadate (91 mumol.kg-1.min-1) or lithium, vanadate, zinc, and magnesium (93 mumol.kg-1.min-1).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Glucose toxicity.

Glucose toxicity is a well-established entity that has been shown in animal models of diabetes to contribute to development of insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion. In type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes in humans, a considerable body of evidence has accumulated indicating that a chronic physiological increment in the plasma glucose concentration leads to progressive impairment in insulin secretion and may contribute to insulin resistance as well. The precise biochemical mechanism(s) responsible for the hyperglycemia-induced defect in insulin secretion remains to be defined but may be related to a defect in phosphoinositide metabolism. In animal models of diabetes, development of insulin resistance is related to downregulation of the glucose-transport system, and a similar phenomenon is also likely to occur in humans. In addition, hyperglycemia in humans may lead to a defect in glycogen synthesis. In this respect, humans may be different from rats. In type I (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients who are poorly controlled, insulin resistance is a characteristic feature and can be ameliorated by tight glycemic control, suggesting that hyperglycemia is responsible for the insulin resistance. Evidence also has accumulated to implicate glucose toxicity in the functional impairment in insulin secretion that occurs during the initial presentation of patients with type I diabetes, and this may explain the honeymoon period so commonly observed after the institution of insulin therapy.

Animals↗

Isocratic high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of the concentration and specific radioactivity of phosphoenolpyruvate and uridine diphosphate glucose in tissue extracts.

A rapid and efficient isocratic high-performance liquid chromatographic method for studying the metabolism of phosphoenolpyruvate and uridine diphosphate glucose (UDPG) has been developed. For each compound this method can measure tissue concentrations in the range 0.1-1000 nmol/g of tissue and determine specific radioactivity. All measurements can be performed in 200 mg of tissue. The recoveries of uridine diphosphate [6-3H]glucose and phosphoenol[1-14C]pyruvate from liver tissue homogenates were 97 and 99%, respectively. Following intra-arterial infusion of [6-3H]glucose and [U-14C]lactate in conscious rat, the concentration and specific radioactivity of phosphoenolpyruvate and UDPG were determined in rat liver. The method may be applied to experimentation in small animals using radiolabelled precursors in order to quantitate in vivo the glycogenic and gluconeogenic fluxes.

Animals↗

Effect of dietary protein on in vivo insulin action and liver glycogen repletion.

To investigate the influence of dietary manipulation on in vivo glucose metabolism, we pair fed normal rats for 10 days with one of three diets: 1) high protein-low carbohydrate (Hi-PN) (n = 20); 2) intermediate protein (I-PN) (n = 11); and 3) low protein-high carbohydrate (Lo-PN) (n = 18). Fasting glucose, postmeal plasma glucose, and insulin concentrations were as follows: 118 +/- 2 mg/dl, 138 +/- 2 mg/dl, and 4.0 +/- 0.2 ng/ml in Hi-PN; 111 +/- 3 mg/dl, 147 +/- 3 mg/dl, and 5.1 +/- 0.3 ng/ml in I-PN; 102 +/- 2 mg/dl, 162 +/- 2 mg/dl, and 6.0 +/- 0.2 ng/ml in Lo-PN, respectively. Basic hepatic glucose production (HGP) was 6.6 +/- 0.2 in Hi-PN, 6.1 +/- 0.2 in I-PN, and 5.6 +/- 0.1 mg.kg-1.min-1 in Lo-PN. Insulin sensitivity was assessed with the euglycemic clamp using two insulin infusion rates: 2 and 4 mU.kg-1.min-1. The rate of glucose disappearance was 14.8 +/- 0.4 and 25.3 +/- 0.7 in Hi-PN, 15.3 +/- 0.4 and 26.9 +/- 0.5 in I-PN, and 16.1 +/- 0.6 and 31.5 +/- 0.5 mg.kg-1.min-1 in Lo-PN, respectively. HGP was suppressed by 86 in the 2- and by 90% in the 4-mU insulin clamp in the Lo-PN, whereas HGP was suppressed by 45 and by 79% in the two steps in the Hi-PN group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Influence of the route of glucose administration on hepatic glycogen repletion.

To delineate the role of the route of glucose administration on liver glycogen synthesis, we administered [1-13C]glucose either by intravenous or intraduodenal infusion to chronically catheterized 24-h fasted rats and performed 1) intravenous-hyperglycemic clamp (group I, n = 9), portal vein plasma glucose and insulin concentrations were 216 +/- 6 mg/dl and 23.9 +/- 4.2 ng/ml; 2) intraduodenal-hyperglycemic infusion (group II, n = 8), portal vein glucose and insulin concentrations were 219 +/- 6 mg/dl and 17.5 +/- 2.7 ng/ml; and 3) intravenous-hyperglycemic-suprahyperinsulinemic clamp (group III, n = 5), portal vein glucose and insulin concentrations were 203 +/- 12 mg/dl and 44.6 +/- 5.0 ng/ml. The mean glucose infusion rates (mumol.kg-1.min-1) and glycogenic rates (mumol.g liver-1.min-1) were 201 +/- 8, 0.34 +/- 0.05; 129 +/- 3, 0.73 +/- 0.11; and 269 +/- 19, 0.38 +/- 0.08 in groups I-III, respectively. The percent of glycogen synthesized by the direct pathway was group I = 43 +/- 6%, group II = 44 +/- 6%, and group III = 46 +/- 7%. In conclusion, despite similar or lower portal vein insulin and glucose concentrations, the intraduodenal route of glucose administration (group II), compared with the intravenous route (groups I and III), markedly increased the total amount of liver glycogen synthesized without altering the percent of the direct vs. indirect pathways by which liver glycogen was repleted.

Animals↗

Correction of chronic hyperglycemia with vanadate, but not with phlorizin, normalizes in vivo glycogen repletion and in vitro glycogen synthase activity in diabetic skeletal muscle.

Vanadate has insulin-like activity in vitro and in vivo. To characterize the in vivo mechanism of action of vanadate, we examined meal tolerance, insulin-mediated glucose disposal, in vivo liver and muscle glycogen synthesis, and in vitro glycogen synthase activity in 90% partially pancreatectomized rats. Four groups were studied: group I, sham-operated controls; group II, diabetic rats; group III, diabetic rats treated with vanadate; and group IV, diabetic rats treated with phlorizin. Insulin sensitivity, assessed with the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp technique in awake, unstressed rats, was reduced by approximately 28% in diabetic rats. Both vanadate and phlorizin treatment completely normalized meal tolerance and insulin-mediated glucose disposal. Muscle glycogen synthesis was reduced by approximately 80% in diabetic rats (P less than 0.01) and was completely restored to normal by vanadate, but not by phlorizin treatment. Glycogen synthase activity was reduced in skeletal muscle of diabetic rats (P less than 0.05) compared with controls and was increased to supranormal levels by vanadate treatment (P less than 0.01). Phlorizin therapy did not reverse the defect in muscle glycogen synthase. These results suggest that (a) the defect in muscle glycogen synthesis is the major determinant of insulin resistance in diabetic rats; (b) both vanadate and phlorizin treatment normalize meal tolerance and insulin sensitivity in diabetic rats; (c) vanadate treatment specifically reverses the defect in muscle glycogen synthesis in diabetic rats. This effect cannot be attributed to the correction of hyperglycemia because phlorizin therapy had no direct influence on the glycogenic pathway.

Animals↗

Normalization of insulin sensitivity with lithium in diabetic rats.

Lithium salts are commonly used in psychiatric patients and have been shown to have an insulinlike action in vitro. To define the impact of lithium ion on in vivo glucose metabolism, the effect of 2 wk of lithium treatment on plasma glucose and insulin concentrations, insulin-mediated glucose disposal, and skeletal muscle glycogen synthesis in normal and diabetic rats was examined. Our results demonstrated the ability of lithium ions to completely restore insulin sensitivity to normal in diabetic rats. The insulin-mimetic activity of the cation seems to be highly specific for the glycogenic pathway in skeletal muscle. These results raise the possibility that lithium ion may prove effective in reversing the defect in glycogen storage that characterizes non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in humans.

Animals↗