β-Amyloid-induced cognitive dysfunction impairs glucose homeostasis by increasing insulin resistance and decreasing β-cell mass in non-diabetic and diabetic rats

OBJECTIVE

β-Amyloid accumulation in the brain may impair glucose homeostasis in both the brain and peripheral tissues. The present study investigated whether β-amyloid deposition in the hippocampus impairs glucose homeostasis by altering insulin sensitivity, glucose-stimulated insulin secretion or β-cell mass.

METHODS

Male rats were divided into two groups: a non-diabetic sham group and a diabetic partial pancreatectomized (Px) group. Each group was then subdivided into three treatment groups that received intra-CA1 infusions of β-amyloid (25-35; AMY), β-amyloid (35-25; RAMY; non-plaque forming), or saline at a rate of 3.6 nmol/day for 14 days.

RESULTS

After 4weeks, cognitive function measured by passive avoidance and water maze tests was impaired in non-diabetic rats that received AMY compared with rats that received saline or RAMY. Furthermore, diabetes exacerbated cognitive dysfunction in AMY-infused rats. This was associated with the hyperphosphorylation of tau as a result of attenuated insulin signaling (pAkt→pGSK) through decreased phosphorylation of cAMP responding element binding protein in the hippocampus of non-diabetic and diabetic rats. AMY exacerbated whole-body and hepatic insulin resistance in non-diabetic and diabetic rats. However, AMY potentiated glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in non-diabetic and diabetic rats, but caused decreased β-cell mass via increased β-cell apoptosis and decreased β-cell proliferation. As a result, glucose homeostasis was maintained by potentiating insulin secretion in diabetic rats, but may not be sustainable with further decreases in β-cell mass.

CONCLUSION

Cognitive dysfunction attributable to β-amyloid accumulation in the hippocampus might be related to disturbed glucose homeostasis due to increased insulin resistance and decreased β-cell mass.