Development of insulin sensitivity in rat skeletal muscle. Studies of glucose transporter and insulin receptor mRNA levels

Development and regulation of glucose transporter and hexokinase expression in rat

The ontogenesis of the glucose transporters GLUT-1, GLUT-2, and GLUT-4 and the hexokinases HK-I, HK-II, and HK-IV (glucokinase) was studied in rat tissues. In brown adipose tissue, high levels of GLUT-4 and HK-II were observed during fetal life; both decreased at birth and then increased throughout development. At birth, cold exposure increased GLUT-4 and HK-II expression in brown adipose tissue, whereas fasting decreased it. GLUT-1 and HK-I were present in fetal muscle, but GLUT-4 and HK-II were absent. The coordinate appearance of GLUT-4 and HK-II in skeletal muscle was concomitant with the acquisition of insulin sensitivity after weaning. In the heart, the glucose transporter isoform switched from GLUT-1 to GLUT-4 during the suckling period. The coordinate expression of GLUT-4 and HK-II in heart was observed after weaning. GLUT-2, detected in fetal liver, increased throughout development. GLUT-1 and HK-I were detectable in fetal liver, whereas glucokinase appeared after weaning. Consumption of a high-carbohydrate diet after weaning increased GLUT-4 and HK-II in muscle and GLUT-2 in liver, whereas consumption of a high-fat diet prevented these changes. These results showed that 1) GLUT-1 and HK-I are abundant in most fetal rat tissues, 2) GLUT-4 and HK-II expression is associated with the appearance of tissue insulin sensitivity, and 3) GLUT-2 is expressed early in liver, before the appearance of glucokinase.

Insulin receptor and glucose transporter mRNA expression in skeletal muscle of genetically obese Zucker rats

Insulin resistance and defective glucose transport are associated with muscle tissue in the genetically obese Zucker rat and are accompanied by changes in the number of insulin receptors and the availability of glucose transporters. The present study was carried out to assess whether, in male Zucker rats at 10 weeks of age, these defects were reflected by changes in the levels of mRNAs for the insulin receptor and for the insulin responsive glucose transporter (GLUT-4). Total RNA was extracted from plantaris and soleus muscles and the levels of insulin receptor and GLUT-4 mRNAs and 18 S rRNA were determined by Northern hybridization and quantified by image analysis of the autoradiographs. A 50% increase in the level of insulin receptor mRNA was detected in both the plantaris and the soleus muscle from the obese rats compared to the lean rats. No change in the level of GLUT-4 mRNA was detected in the plantaris muscle although increases were observed in the soleus muscle from the obese rats.