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Denervation provokes greater reductions in insulin-stimulated glucose transport in muscle than severe diabetes

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Abstract

We have examined the independent and combined effects of insulin insufficiency (streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes, 85 mg/kg i.p.) and reduced muscle activity (denervation) (7 days) on basal, insulin-stimulated and contraction-stimulated glucose transport in rat muscles (soleus, red and white gastrocnemius). There were four treatments: control, denervated, diabetic, and denervated + diabetic muscles. Contraction-stimulated glucose transport was lowered (~ 50%) (p < 0.05) to the same extent in all experimental groups. In contrast, there was a much smaller reduction insulin-stimulated glucose transport in muscles from diabetic animals (18-24% reduction, p < 0.05) than in denervated muscles (40-60% reduction, p < 0.05) and in denervated + diabetic muscles (40-60% reduction, p < 0.05). GLUT-4 mRNA reduction was greatest in denervated + diabetic muscles (~ -75%, p < 0.05). GLUT-4 protein was decreased (p < 0.05) to a similar extent in all three experimental conditions (~ -30-40%). In conclusion, (1) muscle inactivity (denervation) and STZ-induced diabetes had similar effects on reducing contraction-stimulated glucose transport, but (2) muscle inactivity (denervation), rather than severe diabetes, produced a 2-fold greater impairment in skeletal muscle insulin-stimulated glucose transport.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada

    Xiao-Xia Han, Pasan K. Fernando & Arend Bonen

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  1. Xiao-Xia Han
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  2. Pasan K. Fernando
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  3. Arend Bonen
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Han, XX., Fernando, P.K. & Bonen, A. Denervation provokes greater reductions in insulin-stimulated glucose transport in muscle than severe diabetes. Mol Cell Biochem 210, 81–89 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007108025929

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