In vivo and in vitro resistance to maximal insulin-stimulated glucose disposal in insulin deficiency

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Abstract
The effect of streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus on maximal insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in the rat was studied in isolated adipocyte, perfused hindlimb, and the intact organism. Basal glucose transport per fat cell was reduced by approximately two-thirds (P less than 0.001), being associated with a similar decrease in glucose oxidation per fat cell (P less than 0.001). There was also a significant decrease (P less than 0.001) in basal glucose uptake by perfused hindlimb of diabetic rats of approximately 40%. Furthermore, maximal insulin-stimulated glucose transport and oxidation were approximately 50% lower (P less than 0.001) in fat cells of diabetic as compared with control rats. In contrast, maximal insulin-stimulated glucose disposal by perfused hindlimbs from diabetic and control rats was similar, and this was also true of the ability of insulin to maximally stimulate glucose uptake in the intact normal and diabetic rat. These findings indicate that variation exists in the manner in which insulin-sensitive tissues respond to experimentally induced insulin deficiency and support the view that total body glucose disposal is primarily related to insulin action on muscle.