RESUMO
Modifications in life-style and/or pharmacotherapies contribute to weight loss and ameliorate the metabolic profile of diet-induced obese humans and rodents. Since these strategies fail to treat hypothalamic obesity, we have assessed the possible mechanisms by which duodenal-jejunal bypass (DJB) surgery regulates hepatic lipid metabolism and the morphophysiology of pancreatic islets, in hypothalamic obese (HyO) rats. During the first 5 days of life, male Wistar rats received subcutaneous injections of monosodium glutamate (4 g/kg body weight, HyO group), or saline (CTL). At 90 days of age, HyO rats were randomly subjected to DJB (HyO DJB group) or sham surgery (HyO Sham group). HyO Sham rats were morbidly obese, insulin resistant, hypertriglyceridemic and displayed higher serum concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and hepatic triglyceride (TG). These effects were associated with higher expressions of the lipogenic genes and fatty acid synthase (FASN) protein content in the liver. Furthermore, hepatic genes involved in ß-oxidation and TG export were down-regulated in HyO rats. In addition, these rats exhibited hyperinsulinemia, ß-cell hypersecretion, a higher percentage of islets and ß-cell area/pancreas section, and enhanced nuclear content of Ki67 protein in islet-cells. At 2 months after DJB surgery, serum concentrations of TG and NEFA, but not hepatic TG accumulation and gene and protein expressions, were normalized in HyO rats. Insulin release and Ki67 positive cells were also normalized in HyO DJB islets. In conclusion, DJB decreased islet-cell proliferation, normalized insulinemia, and ameliorated insulin sensitivity and plasma lipid profile, independently of changes in hepatic metabolism.
Assuntos
Duodeno/cirurgia , Fígado Gorduroso/metabolismo , Derivação Gástrica/métodos , Doenças Hipotalâmicas/metabolismo , Ilhotas Pancreáticas/citologia , Ilhotas Pancreáticas/metabolismo , Jejuno/cirurgia , Obesidade/metabolismo , Animais , Animais Recém-Nascidos , Glicemia/metabolismo , Proliferação de Células , Colesterol/sangue , Ácido Graxo Sintase Tipo I/metabolismo , Ácidos Graxos/sangue , Fígado Gorduroso/fisiopatologia , Doenças Hipotalâmicas/fisiopatologia , Doenças Hipotalâmicas/cirurgia , Insulina/metabolismo , Resistência à Insulina , Secreção de Insulina , Ilhotas Pancreáticas/fisiopatologia , Lipogênese/genética , Fígado/metabolismo , Fígado/patologia , Masculino , Obesidade/fisiopatologia , Obesidade/cirurgia , Pâncreas/metabolismo , Pâncreas/patologia , Distribuição Aleatória , Ratos Wistar , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Fatores de Tempo , Triglicerídeos/sangueRESUMO
Insulin secretion is mainly regulated by blood glucose concentration. On the other hand, changes in peripheral insulin sensitivity induce compensatory adaptations in pancreatic ß-cells to maintain normoglycaemia. Tumour presence causes dramatic alterations in glucose homeostasis and insulin secretion because of the high glucose consumption by the tumour cells. Here, we investigated insulin secretion in solid Ehrlich tumour-bearing mice in association with cachexia. For that, male adult Swiss mice were subcutaneously inoculated with solid Ehrlich tumour cells and sacrificed at 14 days after tumour implantation (SET), while control mice received saline alone (CTL). Insulin secretion, following different stimuli, glucose tolerance, and insulin sensitivity as well as the expression of key proteins involved in insulin secretion was assessed. The SET group showed decreased glycaemia, insulinaemia, hepatic glycogen and body weight, and increased plasma free fatty acids and triglycerides, characteristics of cancer cachexia. A very interesting finding in this study was the development of higher glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in SET group. The dose-response curve of insulin secretion to increasing glucose concentrations (2.8-22.2 mM) showed an EC50 of 10 mM glucose for CTL mice and 13 mM glucose for SET mice. Insulin secretion was significantly reduced in SET islets at 30 mM KCl, 100 µM carbachol, 20 mM arginine, and 20 mM leucine. Moreover, AKT, PKA, PKC, and AchRM3 expressions were reduced by 17% to 24% in SET animals. These results, mainly the augmented insulin sensitivity, show that SET is an interesting model to study alterations in pancreatic function and carbohydrate metabolism in cancer cachexia.
Assuntos
Caquexia/metabolismo , Carcinoma de Ehrlich/metabolismo , Insulina/metabolismo , Animais , Arginina/metabolismo , Glucose/metabolismo , Humanos , Leucina/metabolismo , Masculino , CamundongosRESUMO
Physical exercise represents an alternative way to prevent and/or ameliorate chronic metabolic diseases. Disruption of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity contributes to adiposity in obese subjects. Here, we verified the preventive effect of swimming training upon adiposity, adrenal catecholamine storage, and pancreatic islet function in obese monosodium glutamate (MSG)-treated rats. Male neonatal Wistar rats received MSG (4 mg/g body weight) during the first 5 days of life and, at weaning, half of the rats were submitted to swimming training, 30 min/day, 3 days a week, until 90 days of age (exercised rats: MSGex). Half of the rats were used as controls (sedentary group, MSGsd). Exercise training (ET) decreased insulinemia and fat deposition in MSGex, and increased adrenal catecholamine content, compared with MSGsd rats. Insulinemia during the ivGTT was lower in MSGex rats, despite a lack of difference in glycemia. Swimming training enhanced insulin release in islets challenged by 2.8-8.3 mmol/l glucose, whereas, at supraphysiological glucose concentrations (11.1-16.7 mmol/l), MSGex islets secreted less insulin than MSGsd. No differences in insulin secretion were observed following l-arginine (Arg) or K(+) stimuli. In contrast, islets from MSGex rats secreted more insulin when exposed to carbachol (100 µmol/l), forskolin (10 µmol/l), or IBMX (1 mmol/l) at 8.3 mmol/l glucose. Additionally, MSGex islets presented a better epinephrine inhibition upon insulin release. These results demonstrate that ET prevented the onset of obesity in MSG rats, probably by enhancing adrenal catecholamine levels. ET ameliorates islet responsiveness to several compounds, as well as insulin peripheral action.
Assuntos
Terapia por Exercício , Glucose/metabolismo , Ilhotas Pancreáticas/metabolismo , Obesidade/metabolismo , Obesidade/terapia , Glutamato de Sódio/efeitos adversos , Animais , Exercício Físico , Humanos , Insulina/metabolismo , Secreção de Insulina , Masculino , Obesidade/fisiopatologia , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Glutamato de Sódio/metabolismo , Natação , DesmameRESUMO
Insulin clearance plays a major role in glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity in physiological and/or pathological conditions, such as obesity-induced type 2 diabetes as well as diet-induced obesity. The aim of the present work was to evaluate cafeteria diet-induced obesity-induced changes in insulin clearance and to explain the mechanisms underlying these possible changes. Female Swiss mice were fed either a standard chow diet (CTL) or a cafeteria diet (CAF) for 8 weeks, after which we performed glucose tolerance tests, insulin tolerance tests, insulin dynamics, and insulin clearance tests. We then isolated pancreatic islets for ex vivo glucose-stimulated insulin secretion as well as liver, gastrocnemius, visceral adipose tissue, and hypothalamus for subsequent protein analysis by western blot and determination of mRNA levels by real-time RT-PCR. The cafeteria diet induced insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, and increased insulin secretion and total insulin content. More importantly, mice that were fed a cafeteria diet demonstrated reduced insulin clearance and decay rate as well as reduced insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) protein and mRNA levels in liver and skeletal muscle compared with the control animals. Furthermore, the cafeteria diet reduced IDE expression and alternative splicing in the liver and skeletal muscle of mice. In conclusion, a cafeteria diet impairs glucose homeostasis by reducing insulin sensitivity, but it also reduces insulin clearance by reducing IDE expression and alternative splicing in mouse liver; however, whether this mechanism contributes to the glucose intolerance or helps to ameliorate it remains unclear.
Assuntos
Carboidratos da Dieta/farmacologia , Gorduras na Dieta/farmacologia , Insulina/metabolismo , Insulisina/metabolismo , Obesidade/metabolismo , Splicing de RNA/efeitos dos fármacos , RNA Mensageiro/metabolismo , Animais , Carboidratos da Dieta/efeitos adversos , Gorduras na Dieta/efeitos adversos , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Ingestão de Alimentos/efeitos dos fármacos , Feminino , Resistência à Insulina/fisiologia , Fígado/metabolismo , Camundongos , Músculo Esquelético/metabolismo , Obesidade/etiologia , Obesidade/fisiopatologiaRESUMO
AIM: Chronic exposure to intermittent hypoxia commonly induces the activation of sympathetic tonus and the disruption of glucose homoeostasis. However, the effects of exposure to acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) on glucose homoeostasis are not yet fully elucidated. Herein, we evaluated parameters related to glucose metabolism in rats exposed to AIH. METHODS: Male adult rats were submitted to 10 episodes of hypoxia (6% O2 , for 45 s) interspersed with 5-min intervals of normoxia (21%), while the control (CTL) group was kept in normoxia. RESULTS: Acute intermittent hypoxia rats presented higher fasting glycaemia, normal insulinaemia, increased lactataemia and similar serum lipid levels, compared to controls (n = 10, P < 0.05). Additionally, AIH rats exhibited increased glucose tolerance (GT) (n = 10, P < 0.05) and augmented insulin sensitivity (IS) (n = 10, P < 0.05). The p-Akt/Akt protein ratio was increased in the muscle, but not in the liver and adipose tissue of AIH rats (n = 6, P < 0.05). The elevated glycaemia in AIH rats was associated with a reduction in the hepatic glycogen content (n = 10, P < 0.05). Moreover, the AIH-induced increase in blood glucose concentration, as well as reduced hepatic glycogen content, was prevented by prior systemic administration of the ß-adrenergic antagonist (P < 0.05). The effects of AIH on glycaemia and Akt phosphorylation were transient and not observed after 60 min. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that AIH induces an increase in blood glucose concentration as a result of hepatic glycogenolysis recruitment through sympathetic activation. The augmentation of GT and IS might be attributed, at least in part, to increased ß-adrenergic sympathetic stimulation and Akt protein activation in skeletal muscles, leading to a higher glucose availability and utilization.
Assuntos
Glicemia/metabolismo , Homeostase/fisiologia , Hipóxia/metabolismo , Animais , Hiperglicemia/metabolismo , Insulina/sangue , Resistência à Insulina/fisiologia , Masculino , Músculo Esquelético/metabolismo , Ratos Wistar , Sistema Nervoso Simpático/metabolismoRESUMO
AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Changes in cellular cholesterol level may contribute to beta cell dysfunction. Islets from low density lipoprotein receptor knockout (LDLR(-/-)) mice have higher cholesterol content and secrete less insulin than wild-type (WT) mice. Here, we investigated the association between cholesterol content, insulin secretion and Ca(2+) handling in these islets. METHODS: Isolated islets from both LDLR(-/-) and WT mice were used for measurements of insulin secretion (radioimmunoassay), cholesterol content (fluorimetric assay), cytosolic Ca(2+) level (fura-2AM) and SNARE protein expression (VAMP-2, SNAP-25 and syntaxin-1A). Cholesterol was depleted by incubating the islets with increasing concentrations (0-10mmol/l) of methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (MßCD). RESULTS: The first and second phases of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) were lower in LDLR(-/-) than in WT islets, paralleled by an impairment of Ca(2+) handling in the former. SNAP-25 and VAMP-2, but not syntaxin-1A, were reduced in LDLR(-/-) compared with WT islets. Removal of excess cholesterol from LDLR(-/-) islets normalized glucose- and tolbutamide-induced insulin release. Glucose-stimulated Ca(2+) handling was also normalized in cholesterol-depleted LDLR(-/-) islets. Cholesterol removal from WT islets by 0.1 and 1.0mmol/l MßCD impaired both GSIS and Ca(2+) handling. In addition, at 10mmol/l MßCD WT islet showed a loss of membrane integrity and higher DNA fragmentation. CONCLUSION: Abnormally high (LDLR(-/-) islets) or low cholesterol content (WT islets treated with MßCD) alters both GSIS and Ca(2+) handling. Normalization of cholesterol improves Ca(2+) handling and insulin secretion in LDLR(-/-) islets.
Assuntos
Cálcio/metabolismo , Colesterol/metabolismo , Glucose/farmacologia , Insulina/metabolismo , Ilhotas Pancreáticas/metabolismo , Animais , Western Blotting , Técnicas In Vitro , Secreção de Insulina , Ilhotas Pancreáticas/efeitos dos fármacos , Camundongos , Camundongos Knockout , Receptores de LDL/genética , Receptores de LDL/metabolismoRESUMO
Gap junctional intercellular communication between ß-cells is crucial for proper insulin biosynthesis and secretion. The aim of this work was to investigate the expression of connexin (Cx)36 at the protein level as well as the function and structure of gap junctions (GJ) made by this protein in the endocrine pancreas of prediabetic mice. C57BL/6 mice were fed a high-fat (HF) or regular chow diet for 60 days. HF-fed mice became obese and prediabetic, as shown by peripheral insulin resistance, moderate hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and compensatory increase in endocrine pancreas mass. Compared with control mice, prediabetic animals showed a significant decrease in insulin-secretory response to glucose and displayed a significant reduction in islet Cx36 protein. Ultrastructural analysis further showed that prediabetic mice had GJ plaques about one-half the size of those of the control group. Microinjection of isolated pancreatic islets with ethidium bromide revealed that prediabetic mice featured a ß-cell-ß-cell coupling 30% lower than that of control animals. We conclude that ß-cell-ß-cell coupling mediated by Cx36 made-channels is impaired in prediabetic mice, suggesting a role of Cx36-dependent cell-to-cell communication in the pathogenesis of the early ß-cell dysfunctions that lead to type 2-diabetes.
Assuntos
Comunicação Celular , Conexinas/metabolismo , Regulação para Baixo , Junções Comunicantes/metabolismo , Células Secretoras de Insulina/metabolismo , Estado Pré-Diabético/metabolismo , Animais , Dieta Hiperlipídica/efeitos adversos , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Feminino , Junções Comunicantes/ultraestrutura , Imuno-Histoquímica , Insulina/sangue , Insulina/metabolismo , Resistência à Insulina , Secreção de Insulina , Células Secretoras de Insulina/ultraestrutura , Ilhotas Pancreáticas/metabolismo , Ilhotas Pancreáticas/patologia , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura , Obesidade/complicações , Pâncreas/metabolismo , Pâncreas/patologia , Estado Pré-Diabético/complicações , Estado Pré-Diabético/etiologia , Estado Pré-Diabético/patologia , Proteína delta-2 de Junções ComunicantesRESUMO
AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) improves metabolic variables of obese animals with characteristics of type 2 diabetes, mainly by reducing insulin resistance. We evaluated whether CNTF was able to improve other metabolic variables in mouse models of type 2 diabetes, such as beta cell mass and insulin clearance, and whether CNTF has any effect on non-obese mice with characteristics of type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Neonatal mice were treated with 0.1 mg/kg CNTF or citrate buffer via intraperitoneal injections, before injection of 250 mg/kg alloxan. HEPG2 cells were cultured for 3 days in the presence of citrate buffer, 1 nmol/l CNTF or 50 mmol/l alloxan or a combination of CNTF and alloxan. Twenty-one days after treatment, we determined body weight, epididymal fat weight, blood glucose, plasma insulin, NEFA, glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, insulin clearance and beta cell mass. Finally, we assessed insulin receptor and protein kinase B phosphorylation in peripheral organs, as well as insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) protein production and alternative splicing in the liver and HEPG2 cells. RESULTS: CNTF improved insulin sensitivity and beta cell mass, while reducing glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and insulin clearance in Swiss mice, improving glucose handling in a non-obese type 2 diabetes model. This effect was associated with lower IDE production and activity in liver cells. All these effects were observed even at 21 days after CNTF treatment. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: CNTF protection against type 2 diabetes is partially independent of the anti-obesity actions of CNTF, requiring a reduction in insulin clearance and increased beta cell mass, besides increased insulin sensitivity. Furthermore, knowledge of the long-term effects of CNTF expands its pharmacological relevance.
Assuntos
Fator Neurotrófico Ciliar/farmacologia , Diabetes Mellitus Experimental/prevenção & controle , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/prevenção & controle , Células Secretoras de Insulina/efeitos dos fármacos , Insulina/metabolismo , Animais , Glicemia/efeitos dos fármacos , Peso Corporal/efeitos dos fármacos , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/metabolismo , Epididimo/efeitos dos fármacos , Ácidos Graxos não Esterificados/sangue , Células Hep G2 , Humanos , Insulina/sangue , Resistência à Insulina , Secreção de Insulina , Insulisina/biossíntese , Masculino , Camundongos , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-akt/análise , Receptor de Insulina/análiseRESUMO
Long-term dexamethasone therapy may induce peripheral insulin resistance (IR), which in turn elicits increased beta-cell function and proliferation. However, whether such adaptive compensations occur during short-term treatment with dexamethasone is unclear. Here, we compared morphofunctional parameters in endocrine pancreas after short- and long-term dexamethasone administration. Groups of rats received daily i. p. injection of 1 mg/kg b. w. dexamethasone for 1 (DEX-1), 3 (DEX-3), or 5 consecutive days (DEX-5), whilst control rats were saline-treated (CTL). Despite the absence of apparent IR in DEX-1 rats, this group exhibited increased circulating insulin levels and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS), compared to the CTL group (p<0.05). Evident IR as well as marked hyperinsulinemia and GSIS, as judged by the static and dynamic insulin secretion values, were observed in DEX-3 and DEX-5 rats (p<0.05). GSIS in islets cultured with 1 µM dexamethasone was lower compared to the control (p<0.05). Marked increases in beta-cell proliferation were observed in DEX-3 and DEX-5 rats, compared to CTL and DEX-1 rats (p<0.05). The alterations observed in DEX-3 rats were more pronounced in DEX-5 rats, which also exhibited a higher content of islet Cdk4 and Cd2 proteins, compared to the CTL group (p<0.05). We conclude that short-term dexamethasone treatment (DEX-1) induces an increase in beta-cell function that does not require the presence of discernible IR. As the treatment continues, the IR develops rapidly, and increased insulin secretion as well as beta-cell hyperplasia is demanded for the appropriate maintenance of glucose homeostasis.
Assuntos
Dexametasona/efeitos adversos , Ilhotas Pancreáticas/efeitos dos fármacos , Animais , Proliferação de Células/efeitos dos fármacos , Dexametasona/administração & dosagem , Glucose/metabolismo , Insulina/metabolismo , Resistência à Insulina , Secreção de Insulina , Células Secretoras de Insulina/citologia , Células Secretoras de Insulina/efeitos dos fármacos , Células Secretoras de Insulina/metabolismo , Ilhotas Pancreáticas/anatomia & histologia , Ilhotas Pancreáticas/metabolismo , Masculino , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , TempoRESUMO
The fruit bat Artibeus lituratus absorbs large amounts of glucose in short periods of time and maintains normoglycemia even after a prolonged starvation period. Based on these data, we aimed to investigate various aspects related with glucose homeostasis analyzing: blood glucose and insulin levels, intraperitoneal glucose and insulin tolerance tests (ipGTT and ipITT), glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (2.8, 5.6 or 8.3 mmol/L glucose) in pancreas fragments, cellular distribution of beta cells, and the amount of pAkt/Akt in the pectoral muscle and liver. Blood glucose levels were higher in fed bats (6.88+/-0.5 mmol/L) than fasted bats (4.0+/-0.8 mmol/L), whereas insulin levels were similar in both conditions. The values of the area-under-the curve obtained from ipGTT were significantly higher when bats received 2 (5.5-fold) or 3g/kg glucose (7.5-fold) b.w compared to control (saline). These bats also exhibited a significant decrease of blood glucose values after insulin administration during the ipITT. Insulin secretion from fragments of pancreas under physiological concentrations of glucose (5.6 or 8.3 mmol/L) was similar but higher than in 2.8 mmol/L glucose 1.8- and 2.0-fold, respectively. These bats showed a marked beta-cell distribution along the pancreas, and the pancreatic beta cells are not exclusively located at the central part of the islet. The insulin-induced Akt phosphorylation was more pronounced in the pectoral muscle, compared to liver. The high sensitivity to glucose and insulin, the proper insulin response to glucose, and the presence of an apparent large beta-cell population could represent benefits for the management of high influx of glucose from a carbohydrate-rich meal, which permits appropriate glucose utilization.