To compare the effect of short- vs long-term amylin infusion on insulin sensitivity, glucose tolerance and serum calcemia, euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp (26 pmol·kg−1·min−1) and glucose tolerance tests (2.4 mmol/kg over 30 min) were performed in lean Zucker rats. Three infusion protocols were employed: control group: 24 h of iv saline; short-term amylin exposure: 22 h of iv saline followed by 2 h of iv amylin (20 μg/h); long-term amylin exposure: 24 h of iv amylin (20 μg/h). Insulin resistance was induced by short-term amylin infusion during euglycemic clamping, as shown by a 41% decrease in space-corrected glucose infusion rates (μmol·kg−1·min−1; control group, 106.0±15.0; short-term iv amylin, 62.7±15.0; p<0.00 5). After long-term amylin exposure, insulin sensitivity was identical to control values (109.9±6.7). This fading action of amylin was confirmed by data from the glucose tolerance test, demonstrating glucose intolerance after short- but not after long-term amylin exposure. Serum calcium concentration decreased during short-term (2 h) amylin infusion (from 2.52±0.15 to 2.09±0.12 mmol/l; p<0.01) and hypocalcemia of a similar extent also was present after 22 h and 24 h of amylin exposure (2.10±0.09 and 2.04±0.14 mmol/l, respectively). The data demonstrate that short-term amylin infusion induces insulin resistance and glucose intolerance, both of which vanish during long-term (>22 h) amylin exposure, being apparently independent of induced hypocalcemia.
Short-Term Estrogen Replacement Effects on Insulin Sensitivity and Glucose Tolerance in At-Risk Cats for Feline Diabetes Mellitus