Effects of a unique conjugate of α-lipoic acid and γ-linolenic acid on insulin action in obese Zucker rats

2000 ◽  
Vol 278 (2) ◽  
pp. R453-R459 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Anthony Peth ◽  
Tyson R. Kinnick ◽  
Erik B. Youngblood ◽  
Hans J. Tritschler ◽  
Erik J. Henriksen
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Essential Fatty Acid ◽  
Glucose Transport ◽  
Lipoic Acid ◽  
Insulin Action ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Zucker Rats ◽  
Additive Effects ◽  
Insulin Resistant ◽  
Obese Zucker Rats

The purpose of this study was to assess the individual and interactive effects of the antioxidant α-lipoic acid (LPA) and the n-6 essential fatty acid γ-linolenic acid (GLA) on insulin action in insulin-resistant obese Zucker rats. LPA, GLA, and a unique conjugate consisting of equimolar parts of LPA and GLA (LPA-GLA) were administered for 14 days at 10, 30, or 50 mg ⋅ kg body wt− 1 ⋅ day− 1. Whereas LPA was without effect at 10 mg/kg, at 30 and 50 mg/kg it elicited 23% reductions ( P < 0.05) in the glucose-insulin index (the product of glucose and insulin areas under the curve during an oral glucose tolerance test and an index of peripheral insulin action) that were associated with significant increases in insulin-mediated (2 mU/ml) glucose transport activity in isolated epitrochlearis (63–65%) and soleus (33–41%) muscles. GLA at 10 and 30 mg/kg caused 21–25% reductions in the glucose-insulin index and 23–35% improvements in insulin-mediated glucose transport in epitrochlearis muscle. The beneficial effects of GLA disappeared at 50 mg/kg. At 10 and 30 mg/kg, the LPA-GLA conjugate elicited 29 and 38% reductions in the glucose-insulin index. These LPA-GLA-induced improvements in whole body insulin action were accompanied by 28–63 and 38–57% increases in insulin-mediated glucose transport in epitrochlearis and soleus muscles and resulted from the additive effects of LPA and GLA. At 50 mg/kg, the metabolic improvements due to LPA-GLA were substantially reduced. In summary, these results indicate that the conjugate of the antioxidant LPA and the n-6 essential fatty acid GLA elicits significant dose-dependent improvements in whole body and skeletal muscle insulin action on glucose disposal in insulin-resistant obese Zucker rats. Moreover, these actions of LPA-GLA are due to the additive effects of its individual components.

scholarly journals Chronic renin inhibition with aliskiren improves glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and skeletal muscle glucose transport activity in obese Zucker rats

2012 ◽  
Vol 302 (1) ◽  
pp. R137-R142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth M. Marchionne ◽  
Maggie K. Diamond-Stanic ◽  
Mujalin Prasonnarong ◽  
Erik J. Henriksen
Keyword(s):  
Insulin Resistance ◽  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Insulin Sensitivity ◽  
Glucose Tolerance ◽  
Glucose Transport ◽  
Insulin Action ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Zucker Rats ◽  
Obese Zucker Rats ◽  
Renin Inhibition

We have demonstrated previously that overactivity of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is associated with whole body and skeletal muscle insulin resistance in obese Zucker ( fa/fa) rats. Moreover, this obesity-associated insulin resistance is reduced by treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor (type 1) blockers. However, it is currently unknown whether specific inhibition of renin itself, the rate-limiting step in RAS functionality, improves insulin action in obesity-associated insulin resistance. Therefore, the present study assessed the effect of chronic, selective renin inhibition using aliskiren on glucose tolerance, whole body insulin sensitivity, and insulin action on the glucose transport system in skeletal muscle of obese Zucker rats. Obese Zucker rats were treated for 21 days with either vehicle or aliskiren (50 mg/kg body wt ip). Renin inhibition was associated with a significant lowering (10%, P < 0.05) of resting systolic blood pressure and induced reductions in fasting plasma glucose (11%) and free fatty acids (46%) and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (13%). Glucose tolerance (glucose area under the curve) and whole body insulin sensitivity (inverse of the glucose-insulin index) during an oral glucose tolerance test were improved by 15% and 16%, respectively, following chronic renin inhibition. Moreover, insulin-stimulated glucose transport activity in isolated soleus muscle of renin inhibitor-treated animals was increased by 36% and was associated with a 2.2-fold greater Akt Ser473 phosphorylation. These data provide evidence that chronic selective inhibition of renin activity leads to improvements in glucose tolerance and whole body insulin sensitivity in the insulin-resistant obese Zucker rat. Importantly, chronic renin inhibition is associated with upregulation of insulin action on skeletal muscle glucose transport, and it may involve improved Akt signaling. These data support the strategy of targeting the RAS to improve both blood pressure regulation and insulin action in conditions of insulin resistance.

Chronic selective glycogen synthase kinase-3 inhibition enhances glucose disposal and muscle insulin action in prediabetic obese Zucker rats

2006 ◽  
Vol 291 (2) ◽  
pp. E207-E213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Betsy B. Dokken ◽  
Erik J. Henriksen
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Insulin Sensitivity ◽  
Glucose Tolerance ◽  
Glucose Transport ◽  
Glycogen Synthase ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Zucker Rats ◽  
Oral Glucose ◽  
Insulin Resistant ◽  
Obese Zucker Rats

Increasing evidence supports a negative role of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) in regulation of skeletal muscle glucose transport. We assessed the effects of chronic treatment of insulin-resistant, prediabetic obese Zucker ( fa/ fa) rats with a highly selective GSK-3 inhibitor (CT118637) on glucose tolerance, whole body insulin sensitivity, plasma lipids, skeletal muscle insulin signaling, and in vitro skeletal muscle glucose transport activity. Obese Zucker rats were treated with either vehicle or CT118637 (30 mg/kg body wt) twice per day for 10 days. Fasting plasma insulin and free fatty acid levels were reduced by 14 and 23% ( P < 0.05), respectively, in GSK-3 inhibitor-treated animals compared with vehicle-treated controls. The glucose response during an oral glucose tolerance test was reduced by 18% ( P < 0.05), and whole body insulin sensitivity was increased by 28% ( P < 0.05). In vivo insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) tyrosine phosphorylation (50%) and IRS-1-associated phosphatidylinositol-3′ kinase (79%) relative to fasting plasma insulin levels were significantly elevated ( P < 0.05) in plantaris muscles of GSK-3 inhibitor-treated animals. Whereas basal glucose transport in isolated soleus and epitrochlearis muscles was unaffected by chronic GSK-3 treatments, insulin stimulation of glucose transport above basal was significantly enhanced (32–60%, P < 0.05). In summary, chronic treatment of insulin-resistant, prediabetic obese Zucker rats with a specific GSK-3 inhibitor enhances oral glucose tolerance and whole body insulin sensitivity and is associated with an amelioration of dyslipidemia and an improvement in IRS-1-dependent insulin signaling in skeletal muscle. These results provide further evidence that selective targeting of GSK-3 in muscle may be an effective intervention for the treatment of obesity-associated insulin resistance.

Acute selective glycogen synthase kinase-3 inhibition enhances insulin signaling in prediabetic insulin-resistant rat skeletal muscle

2005 ◽  
Vol 288 (6) ◽  
pp. E1188-E1194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Betsy B. Dokken ◽  
Julie A. Sloniger ◽  
Erik J. Henriksen
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Tyrosine Phosphorylation ◽  
Glucose Transport ◽  
Insulin Signaling ◽  
Insulin Action ◽  
Glycogen Synthase ◽  
Serine Phosphorylation ◽  
Zucker Rats ◽  
Type I ◽  
Insulin Resistant

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3) has been implicated in the multifactorial etiology of skeletal muscle insulin resistance in animal models and in human type 2 diabetic subjects. However, the potential molecular mechanisms involved are not yet fully understood. Therefore, we determined if selective GSK3 inhibition in vitro leads to an improvement in insulin action on glucose transport activity in isolated skeletal muscle of insulin-resistant, prediabetic obese Zucker rats and if these effects of GSK3 inhibition are associated with enhanced insulin signaling. Type I soleus and type IIb epitrochlearis muscles from female obese Zucker rats were incubated in the absence or presence of a selective, small organic GSK3 inhibitor (1 μM CT118637, Ki < 10 nM for GSK3α and GSK3β). Maximal insulin stimulation (5 mU/ml) of glucose transport activity, glycogen synthase activity, and selected insulin-signaling factors [tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor (IR) and IRS-1, IRS-1 associated with p85 subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and serine phosphorylation of Akt and GSK3] were assessed. GSK3 inhibition enhanced ( P <0.05) basal glycogen synthase activity and insulin-stimulated glucose transport in obese epitrochlearis (81 and 24%) and soleus (108 and 20%) muscles. GSK3 inhibition did not modify insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of IR β-subunit in either muscle type. However, in obese soleus, GSK3 inhibition enhanced (all P < 0.05) insulin-stimulated IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation (45%), IRS-1-associated p85 (72%), Akt1/2 serine phosphorylation (30%), and GSK3β serine phosphorylation (39%). Substantially smaller GSK3 inhibitor-mediated enhancements of insulin action on these insulin signaling factors were observed in obese epitrochlearis. These results indicate that selective GSK3 inhibition enhances insulin action in insulin-resistant skeletal muscle of the prediabetic obese Zucker rat, at least in part by relieving the deleterious effects of GSK3 action on post-IR insulin signaling. These effects of GSK3 inhibition on insulin action are greater in type I muscle than in type IIb muscle from these insulin-resistant animals.

Effects of exercise training and antioxidant R-ALA on glucose transport in insulin-sensitive rat skeletal muscle

2002 ◽  
Vol 92 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vitoon Saengsirisuwan ◽  
Felipe R. Perez ◽  
Tyson R. Kinnick ◽  
Erik J. Henriksen
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Exercise Training ◽  
Glucose Transport ◽  
Insulin Action ◽  
Treadmill Running ◽  
Protein Carbonyls ◽  
Zucker Rats ◽  
Oral Glucose ◽  
Insulin Resistant

We have recently demonstrated (Saengsirisuwan V, Kinnick TR, Schmit MB, and Henriksen EJ, J Appl Physiol 91: 145–153, 2001) that exercise training (ET) and the antioxidant R-(+)-α-lipoic acid ( R-ALA) interact in an additive fashion to improve insulin action in insulin-resistant obese Zucker ( fa/fa) rats. The purpose of the present study was to assess the interactions of ET and R-ALA on insulin action and oxidative stress in a model of normal insulin sensitivity, the lean Zucker ( fa/−) rat. For 6 wk, animals either remained sedentary, received R-ALA (30 mg · kg body wt−1 · day−1), performed ET (treadmill running), or underwent both R-ALA treatment and ET. ET alone or in combination with R-ALA significantly increased ( P < 0.05) peak oxygen consumption (28–31%) and maximum run time (52–63%). During an oral glucose tolerance test, ET alone or in combination with R-ALA resulted in a significant lowering of the glucose response (17–36%) at 15 min relative to R-ALA alone and of the insulin response (19–36%) at 15 min compared with sedentary controls. Insulin-mediated glucose transport activity was increased by ET alone in isolated epitrochlearis (30%) and soleus (50%) muscles, and this was associated with increased GLUT-4 protein levels. Insulin action was not improved by R-ALA alone, and ET-associated improvements in these variables were not further enhanced with combined ET and R-ALA. Although ET and R-ALA caused reductions in soleus protein carbonyls (an index of oxidative stress), these alterations were not significantly correlated with insulin-mediated soleus glucose transport. These results indicate that the beneficial interactive effects of ET and R-ALA on skeletal muscle insulin action observed previously in insulin-resistant obese Zucker rats are not apparent in insulin-sensitive lean Zucker rats.

Fatty acid synthesis in vivo and hepatic contribution to whole-body lipogenic rates in obese zucker rats

Lipids ◽  
1980 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. 993-998 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Kannan ◽  
D. B. Learn ◽  
N. Baker ◽  
J. Elovson
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Fatty Acid Synthesis ◽  
Acid Synthesis ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Zucker Rats ◽  
Obese Zucker Rats

Interactions of exercise training and α-lipoic acid on insulin signaling in skeletal muscle of obese Zucker rats

2004 ◽  
Vol 287 (3) ◽  
pp. E529-E536 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vitoon Saengsirisuwan ◽  
Felipe R. Perez ◽  
Julie A. Sloniger ◽  
Thomas Maier ◽  
Erik J. Henriksen
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Exercise Training ◽  
Protein Expression ◽  
Glucose Transport ◽  
Soleus Muscle ◽  
Lipoic Acid ◽  
Combination Treatment ◽  
Insulin Signaling ◽  
Insulin Action ◽  
Insulin Resistant

We have shown previously (Saengsirisuwan V, Kinnick TR, Schmit MB, and Henriksen EJ. J Appl Physiol 91: 145–153, 2001) that the antioxidant R-(+)-α-lipoic acid (R-ALA), combined with endurance exercise training (ET), increases glucose transport in insulin-resistant skeletal muscle in an additive fashion. The purpose of the present study was to investigate possible cellular mechanisms responsible for this interactive effect. We evaluated the effects of R-ALA alone, ET alone, or R-ALA and ET in combination on insulin-stimulated glucose transport, protein expression, and functionality of specific insulin-signaling factors in soleus muscle of obese Zucker ( fa/fa) rats. Obese animals remained sedentary, received R-ALA (30 mg·kg body wt−1·day−1), performed ET (daily treadmill running for ≤60 min), or underwent both R-ALA treatment and ET for 15 days. R-ALA or ET individually increased ( P < 0.05) insulin-mediated (5 mU/ml) glucose transport (2-deoxyglucose uptake) in soleus muscle by 45 and 68%, respectively, and this value was increased to the greatest extent (124%) in the combined treatment group. Soleus insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 protein was significantly increased by R-ALA alone (30%) or ET alone (31%), and a further enhancement (55%) was observed after the combination treatment in the obese animals. Enhanced levels of IRS-1 protein expression after individual or combined interventions were significantly correlated with insulin action on glucose transport activity ( r = 0.597, P = 0.0055). Similarly, insulin-mediated IRS-1 associated with the p85 regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase was increased by R-ALA (317%) and ET (319%) and to the greatest extent (435%) (all P < 0.05) by the combination treatment. These results indicate that the improvements of insulin action in insulin-resistant skeletal muscle after R-ALA or ET, alone and in combination, were associated with increases in IRS-1 protein expression and IRS-1 associated with p85.

scholarly journals Effect of chronic bradykinin administration on insulin action in an animal model of insulin resistance

1998 ◽  
Vol 275 (1) ◽  
pp. R40-R45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik J. Henriksen ◽  
Stephan Jacob ◽  
Donovan L. Fogt ◽  
Guenther J. Dietze
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Glucose Tolerance ◽  
Glucose Transport ◽  
Insulin Action ◽  
Obese Group ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Transport Activity ◽  
Insulin Resistant ◽  
Muscle Glucose Transport

The nonapeptide bradykinin (BK) has been implicated as the mediator of the beneficial effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors on insulin-stimulated glucose transport in insulin-resistant skeletal muscle. In the present study, the effects of chronic in vivo BK treatment of obese Zucker ( fa/ fa) rats, a model of glucose intolerance and severe insulin resistance, on whole body glucose tolerance and skeletal muscle glucose transport activity stimulated by insulin or contractions were investigated. BK was administered subcutaneously (twice daily at 40 μg/kg body wt) for 14 consecutive days. Compared with a saline-treated obese group, the BK-treated obese animals had significantly ( P < 0.05) lower fasting plasma levels of insulin (20%) and free fatty acids (26%), whereas plasma glucose was not different. During a 1 g/kg body wt oral glucose tolerance test, the glucose and insulin responses [incremental areas under the curve (AUC)] were 21 and 29% lower, respectively, in the BK-treated obese group. The glucose-insulin index, the product of the glucose and insulin AUCs and an indirect index of in vivo insulin action, was 52% lower in the BK-treated obese group compared with the obese control group. Moreover, 2-deoxyglucose uptake in the isolated epitrochlearis muscle stimulated by a maximally effective dose of insulin (2 mU/ml) was 52% greater in the BK-treated obese group. Contraction-stimulated (10 tetani) 2-deoxyglucose uptake was also enhanced by 35% as a result of the BK treatment. In conclusion, these findings indicate that in the severely insulin-resistant obese Zucker rat, chronic in vivo treatment with BK can significantly improve whole body glucose tolerance, possibly as a result of the enhanced insulin-stimulated skeletal muscle glucose transport activity observed in these animals.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document