O efeito de refeições ricas em carboidratos e lipídeos sobre a sensibilidade à insulina foi avaliado. Além disso, investigou-se o conteúdo da proteína GLUT4 em músculo esquelético e tecido adiposo branco. Ratos foram realimentados por 1, 2, 4 e 6 horas com: refeição balanceada (B); rica em carboidrato (C) e rica em lipídeo (L). O índice glicose/insulina revelou que C e L apresentavam resistência à insulina 2 horas após o início da ingestão. No teste de tolerância à insulina, uma redução (~47%) na sensibilidade à insulina foi observada em C após 2 e 4 horas de realimentação. O teste de tolerância à glicose confirmou a resistência à insulina em C e L após 2 horas de ingestão. Não houve alteração no conteúdo de GLUT4, nos momentos em que se verificou alteração na sensibilidade à insulina. Tais resultados indicam que, em ratos, refeições não balanceadas (alto teor de carboidrato ou alto teor de lipídeo), induzem menor sensibilidade à insulina 2 horas após o início da ingestão, e este fenômeno não envolve alterações no conteúdo de GLUT4 nos tecidos avaliados. / The effect of high carbohydrate and fat meals on the insulin sensitivity was evaluated. Furthermore, it was investigated the content of GLUT4 protein on the skeletal muscle and white adipose tissue. Rats were refed for 1, 2, 4 and 6 hours with: balanced meal (B); high carbohydrate meal (C) and high fat meal (L). The glucose/insulin index shows that C and L meals exhibited insulin resistance after 2 hours of ingestion. In the insulin tolerance test, a reduction (~47%) in the insulin sensitivity was observed in C group after 2 and 4 hours of refeeding. The glucose tolerance test confirmed the insulin resistance in C and L-groups after 2 hours of ingestion and such phenomena did not involve alterations in the GLUT4 content on both skeletal muscle or white adipose tissue.

O efeito de refeições ricas em carboidratos e lipídeos sobre a sensibilidade à insulina foi avaliado. Além disso, investigou-se o conteúdo da proteína GLUT4 em músculo esquelético e tecido adiposo branco. Ratos foram realimentados por 1, 2, 4 e 6 horas com: refeição balanceada (B); rica em carboidrato (C) e rica em lipídeo (L). O índice glicose/insulina revelou que C e L apresentavam resistência à insulina 2 horas após o início da ingestão. No teste de tolerância à insulina, uma redução (~47%) na sensibilidade à insulina foi observada em C após 2 e 4 horas de realimentação. O teste de tolerância à glicose confirmou a resistência à insulina em C e L após 2 horas de ingestão. Não houve alteração no conteúdo de GLUT4, nos momentos em que se verificou alteração na sensibilidade à insulina. Tais resultados indicam que, em ratos, refeições não balanceadas (alto teor de carboidrato ou alto teor de lipídeo), induzem menor sensibilidade à insulina 2 horas após o início da ingestão, e este fenômeno não envolve alterações no conteúdo de GLUT4 nos tecidos avaliados. / The effect of high carbohydrate and fat meals on the insulin sensitivity was evaluated. Furthermore, it was investigated the content of GLUT4 protein on the skeletal muscle and white adipose tissue. Rats were refed for 1, 2, 4 and 6 hours with: balanced meal (B); high carbohydrate meal (C) and high fat meal (L). The glucose/insulin index shows that C and L meals exhibited insulin resistance after 2 hours of ingestion. In the insulin tolerance test, a reduction (~47%) in the insulin sensitivity was observed in C group after 2 and 4 hours of refeeding. The glucose tolerance test confirmed the insulin resistance in C and L-groups after 2 hours of ingestion and such phenomena did not involve alterations in the GLUT4 content on both skeletal muscle or white adipose tissue.

TBC1D1 and TBC1D4 are Rab-GTPase Activating Proteins (Rab-GAPs) expressed in insulin-responsive tissues. Both proteins are involved in mechanisms which regulate basal levels of glucose transport and have been identified as targets of insulin and AMP-dependant kinase (AMPK) signalling pathways, which regulate GLUT4 translocation to the plasma membrane in muscle. We have characterised the C2C12 muscle cell model retrovirally expressing HA-epitope tagged GLUT4 in order to investigate how distinct signalling pathways regulate GLUT4 trafficking. Insulin-stimulation and treatment with the AMPK-activator (AICAR) increased the levels of GLUT4 at the plasma membrane by two-fold in C2C12 myotubes. Insulin-stimulation and activation of AMPK mobilised GLUT4 in to the actively cycling pool. However, our data revealed that insulin-stimulation or AMPK activation resulted in distinct effects on GLUT4 trafficking parameters at steady-state. Insulin increased GLUT4 exocytosis (kex) of this cycling pool. Activation of AMPK inhibited GLUT4 internalisation (ken). The combined effect of insulin-stimulation and AMPK-activation was synergistic and led to increased GLUT4 cell surface levels above those obtained with either treatment alone. Insulin-stimulation and AMPK activation in combination resulted in a partially additive effect on the size of the actively recycling GLUT4 pool and further enhanced kex of this cycling pool. Kinetic studies were performed to measure the effect of TBC1D1 and TBC1D4 knockdown on GLUT4 trafficking in C2C12 myotubes. siRNA-mediated knockdown of TBC1D4 did not affect the basal levels of cell surface GLUT4. Knockdown of TBC1D1 increased cell surface levels of GLUT4 in basal and in insulin-stimulated C2C12 myotubes. The knockdown increased the release of GLUT4 in to the actively recycling pool. By contrast TBC1D1 knockdown did not change the levels of GLUT4 at the plasma membrane that occur in the presence of the AMPK-activator (AICAR). Our results support a model whereby TBC1D1 inactivation by signalling-dependant phosphorylation is required for GLUT4 translocation, but with insulin and AICAR having separate and distinguishable effects on the released GLUT4.

Peripheral insulin resistance is characterised by reduced insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue, and the condition represents one of the earliest hallmarks in the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D). In patients with T2D, protein expression of the insulin-stimulated glucose transporter, GLUT4, is reduced in adipose tissue, but preserved in skeletal muscle. Transgenic studies in rodents provide evidence that overexpression of GLUT4 selectively in either skeletal muscle or adipose tissue enhances whole-body insulin action. Since skeletal muscle accounts for the majority of insulin-stimulated glucose disposal, the effect of adipose tissue GLUT4 on insulin sensitivity is thought to be secondary to an altered secretion of adipokines which affect insulin action in muscle, in the context of a ‘metabolic crosstalk’ between insulin sensitive tissues. Increasing GLUT4 expression in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue could be an effective therapy in the treatment of insulin resistance and T2D. Exercise training increases GLUT4 protein expression in skeletal muscle of patients with T2D. This adaptation occurs in the face of enhanced insulin sensitivity, and results from the cumulative and transient increase in GLUT4 mRNA following each acute exercise bout. Less is known regarding the regulation of skeletal muscle GLUT4 expression by a single bout of exercise in patients with T2D, or the effect of exercise training on GLUT4 expression in adipose tissue. / The primary aim of the studies undertaken for this thesis was to enhance understanding of exercise-mediated GLUT4 expression in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue of patients with T2D. The first investigation determined the effect of a single bout of exercise on skeletal muscle GLUT4 mRNA, and the signalling pathways which regulate GLUT4 expression, in patients with T2D and healthy control volunteers, matched for age and BMI. Increased (p<0.05) expression of GLUT4 and PGC-1α mRNA, together with increased (p<0.05) phosphorylation of AMPK and p38 MAPK was observed following exercise in patients with T2D, to a similar extent as in age- and BMI-matched control subjects. These findings lead to the conclusion that exercise-mediated regulation of GLUT4 expression is normal in patients with T2D. The second investigation of this thesis sought to identify the effect of a 4 week exercise training program on skeletal muscle and adipose tissue GLUT4 expression in patients with T2D. It was found that exercise training increased (p<0.05) GLUT4 protein expression by ~36% and ~20% in adipose tissue and skeletal muscle, respectively. These adaptations occurred in the absence of changes in insulin sensitivity or plasma levels of adipokines, adiponectin and resistin. Accordingly, the third study of this thesis sought to identify novel adipokines that regulate peripheral glucose metabolism in an adipocyte model of GLUT4 overexpression. Amyloid precursor protein (APP) was reduced (p<0.05) in culture media of GLUT4 overexpressing adipocytes, and the APP cleavage product, amyloid-beta (Aβ), reduced (p<0.05) insulin-stimulated Akt phosphorylation in L6 myocytes in vitro. / These observations lead to the conclusion that increased adipose tissue GLUT4 expression may influence whole body glucose metabolism through reduced levels of Aβ. The primary aim of the final study undertaken was to identify novel changes in the abundance of proteins in skeletal muscle following exercise training in patients with T2D, including proteins of glucose metabolism, which may regulate of GLUT4 expression. Exercise training altered the abundance of several proteins involved in energy metabolism, as well as some novel proteins which may play a role in cytoskeleton interactions with mitochondria. In summary, this thesis demonstrated that skeletal muscle from patients with T2D responds normally to an acute exercise bout in terms of increased GLUT4 mRNA expression. In addition, it was shown that exercise training increased GLUT4 protein expression, not only in skeletal muscle, but also in adipose tissue of patients with T2D. This is significant because adipose tissue GLUT4 overexpression enhances insulin sensitivity. Data from this thesis suggest that improvements in insulin sensitivity may be secondary to altered secretion of Aβ from adipose tissue. Collectively, the findings provide a number of therapeutic targets for the treatment of insulin resistance and T2D.

One of the hallmarks of postprandial glucose homeostasis is the ability of insulin to promote glucose uptake into skeletal muscles. Insulin achieves this feat by enhancing the recruitment of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) from an intracellular compartment to the plasma membrane of muscles in order to create a net increase in surface GLUT4, which results in elevated glucose uptake. From a molecular perspective, this insulin-regulated GLUT4 traffic action requires the independent activation of Akt and Rac-1 in muscle cells because perturbation of either molecule results in an impaired response. Although Rac-1 has been validated as key component of insulin response, its downstream signalling capacity contributing to GLUT4 translocation remains unexplored. Studies on Rac-1 have shown that it is responsible for the formation of cortical remodelled actin that facilitates GLUT4 translocation following insulin stimulation. However, the downstream Rac-dependent molecules governing this actin remodelling are undetermined. Here we identified Arp2/3 and cofilin as the Rac-dependent regulators of insulin-induced actin remodelling in muscle cells. While Arp2/3 acts to initiate a burst of actin polymerization, cofilin balances out the actin dynamics through its severing/depolymerizing activity. Inhibition of either molecule’s function leads to defective GLUT4 translocation mediated by insulin in muscle cells, suggesting the requirement of actin dynamics to facilitate GLUT4 traffic to the plasma membrane. Furthermore, given the importance of Rac-1 in insulin-mediate GLUT4 traffic, its application potential to reverse insulin resistance has never been explored. We discovered that providing muscle cells with additional Rac-1 activity produces an insulin-independent gain in surface GLUT4 with magnitude comparable to that normally elicited by insulin. This phenotype is accomplished because of the concomitant cross-activation of Akt pathway when supplying the cells with active Rac-1. Interestingly, this response can bypass signalling defects imposed by cellular insulin resistance conditions, leading to restoration of GLUT4 translocation in muscle cells. Overall, these results not only reinforce the functional impact of Rac-1 on GLUT4 traffic but also identify additional molecules governed by Rac-1 contributing to the integrity of this insulin-mediated response in muscle cells.

Obesidade envolve redução da expressão do transportador de glicose GLUT4 e do gene codificador SLC2A4 em tecido adiposo, junto com aumento na produção de TNFA, que regula negativamente o SLC2A4. Objetivo: avaliar regulação de Slc2a4/GLUT4 em tecido adiposo perigonadal de camundongos controles (C-tratados com salina) e obesos (MSG-tratados com MSG), submetidos a dieta normolipídica (DN) ou hiperlipídica (DH) por 4, 8, 12 e 16 semanas. Em 4 semanas MSG-DN apresentaram aumento na na sensibilidade insulínica e no GLUT4. A partir de 8 semanas, esse quadro se inverteu, com redução de Slc2a4/GLUT4 e aumento de Tnfa, resistência à insulina, hiperinsulinemia e hiperglicemia. A DH acelerou/exacerbou essa evolução. Em síntese, a evolução da obesidade levou a um quadro de diabetes tipo 2, no qual redução do GLUT4 desempenha um importante papel. / Obesity involves reduction of the glucose transporter GLUT4 expression and the encoding gene SLC2A4 in adipose tissue along with increased production of TNFA that negatively regulates the SLC2A4. Objective: To evaluate regulation of SLC2A4/GLUT4 in perigonadal adipose tissue controls mice (C treated with saline) and obese (MSG treated with MSG) undergoing normolipidic diet (ND) or hyperlipidic diet (HD) for 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks. In 4 weeks MSG-ND showed increased insulin sensitivity and GLUT4. From 8 weeks, this situation was reversed, with a reduction of SLC2A4/ GLUT4 and increased Tnfa, insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia and hyperglycemia. The HD accelerated/exacerbated this trend. In summary, the development of obesity led to type 2 diabetes above in which reduction of GLUT4 plays an important role.

A descoberta da osteocalcina, uma proteína sintetizada por osteoblastos, como hormônio com efeitos positivos na resistência à insulina contribuiu para conceituar o osso como órgão endócrino. Pouco se conhece sobre os mecanismos moleculares de atuação da osteocalcina sobre o quadro de melhora de resistência à insulina, sendo assim o presente projeto teve o objetivo de desvendar alguns mecanismos moleculares da ação de osteocalcina na resistência à insulina e inflamação em camundongos obesos, e em adipócitos 3T3-L1. Camundongos controles, obesos tratados com solução salina e obesos tratados com osteocalcina não carboxilada foram submetidos aos testes de tolerância à insulina, ao piruvato e ao ensaio de sinalização da insulina in vivo, à coleta de sangue (análises bioquímicas e metabólicas), de tecido adiposo branco (TAB), de fígado e de fêmur. Os efeitos da osteocalcina não carboxilada na resistência à insulina e inflamação foram avaliados em adipócitos da linhagem 3T3-L1 desafiados com TNF-a. O conteúdo de mRNA foi analisado por PCR quantitativo e de proteína, por Western blotting. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que o tratamento com osteocalcina não carboxilada melhora a sensibilidade à insulina in vivo em camundongos obesos. No tecido adiposo branco (TAB), a osteocalcina teve efeitos positivos como a redução na massa do TAB periepididimal, o aumento a expressão do gene Slc2a4 e o conteúdo proteico de GLUT4, melhora na fosforilação de AKT estimulada pela sinalização da insulina, além de reduzir a expressão de genes relacionados à inflamação e à maquinaria transcricional do inflamassomo e reduzir focos inflamatórios caracterizados pela ausência de coroas de macrófagos. Em adipócitos 3T3-L1 desafiados com TNF-a, a osteocalcina recuperou o conteúdo de Slc2a4/GLUT4 e reduziu a expressão de genes inflamatórios, além de que o tratamento com osteocalcina aumentou a fosforilação de AKT induzida pela insulina. No fígado, a osteocalcina aumentou a sensibilidade à insulina e aumentou a fosforilação de AKT induzida pela insulina in vivo e reduziu a expressão de mRNA de Tnfa, sem alterar a expressão da proteína GLUT2 e de seu respectivo gene. No osso, a osteocalcina melhorou a resistência a insulina por favorecer a fosforilação de AKT induzida pela sinalização da insulina e por reduzir a expressão de genes envolvidos na resistência à insulina, resultando no aumento da secreção de osteocalcina não carboxilada na circulação. Em conclusão, conseguiu-se demonstrar alguns mecanismos de ação da osteocalcina na melhora do quadro de resistência à insulina na obesidade, em que no TAB a osteocalcina melhora a resistência à insulina por diminuir a inflamação e aumentar a sinalização da insulina e a expressão de Slc2a4/GLUT4; no fígado, a osteocalcina melhorou a sinalização insulínica e reduziu a expressão de Tnfa; e no osso a osteocalcina aumentou a secreção de osteocalcina não carboxilada por melhorar a resistência à insulina. / The discovery of osteocalcin, a protein synthetized by osteoblasts, as a hormone that has positive effects on insulin resistance, contributed to support the concept of bone as an endocrine organ. However, very little is known about the molecular pathways involved in osteocalcin improved-insulin resistance. The presente study aimed to investigate the mechanisms of action of osteocalcin on insulin resistance and inammation in obese mice and 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Lean control, saline-treated obese and uncarboxylated osteocalcin (uOC)-treated obese mice were subjected to insulin and pyruvate tolerance test and insulin signaling assessment in vivo. Blood was collect for biochemical/metabolic prole analysis; and, liver, skeletal muscle, white adipose tissue(WAT) and bone were collected for protein (Western blotting) and mRNA (RT-qPCR) analysis. uOC effects on insulin resistance and inammation were also investigated in 3T3-L1 adipocytes challenged with tumor necrosis factor. Osteocalcin treatment improved in vivo insulin resistance in obese mice. In WAT, osteocalcin had positive effects such as WAT weight reduction; upregulation of glucose transporter (GLUT4) protein and its mRNA (Slc2a4); improved insulin-induced AKT phosphorylation; downregulation of several genes involved in inammation and inammassome transcriptional machinery, and reduction of the density of macrophage in crown-like structures (histomorphometrical analysis). Notably, in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, osteocalcin restored Slc2a4/GLUT4 content and reduced the expression of inammatory genes after TNF-a challenge; moreover, osteocalcin treatment increased AKT phosphorylation induced by insulin. In liver, osteocalcin treatment improved insulin resistance and increased AKT phosphorylation induced by insulin, and reduced the expression of Tnfa, not changing the expression of glucose transporter (GLUT2) protein and its mRNA (Slc2a2). Finally, it was observed that in bone, osteocalcin improves insulin resistance by increasing insulin-induced AKT phosphorylation and reducing the expression of genes involved in bone insulin resistance, resulting in increased secretion of uncarboxylated osteocalcin in circulation. We provided some mechanisms of action for osteocalcin in the amelioration of insulin resistance in obesity: in WAT, osteocalcin improves insulin resistance by decreasing inammation, and increasing insulin signaling and the expression of Slc2a4/GLUT4; in liver, the osteocalcin improved insulin resistance and reduced Tnfa expression; and, in bone, osteocalcin increases the secretion of uncarboxylated osteocalcin by improving insulin resistance.

A participação dos produtos de glicação avançada (AGEs) nas complicações crônicas relacionadas ao diabetes, têm sido muito investigadas. Entretanto, pouco se sabe sobre a participação direta dos AGEs em relação a homeostase glicêmica, na qual o transportador de glicose GLUT4 (proteína codificada pelo gene SLC2A4 ) desempenha um papel essencial. Portanto o objetivo do presente estudo é investigar o papel dos AGEs tanto in vivo quanto in vitro sobre a expressão do Slc2a4/GLUT4. Nos modelos in vivo e in vitro, os AGEs reduziram a expressão gênica/proteica do Slc2a4/GLUT4 e reduziram a sensibilidade insulínica no modelo in vivo, como também exarcebaram tanto a via inflamatória pelo NFKB quanto a via do estresse de retículo endoplasmático pelas chaperonas. Por fim, estes resultados sugerem os AGEs como um mecanismo repressor da expressão do Slc2a4/GLUT4 no músculo esquelético pelas vias de estresse de retículo e inflamatória. / The participation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in the diabetes-related chronic complications has been extensively investigated. However, little is known about AGEs participation in glycemic homeostasis, for which the glucose transporter GLUT4 (Slc2a4 gene) plays a key role. The aim of this study was indentify the effect of AGEs in an in vivo and in vitro models in Slc2a4/GLUT4 expression. In vivo and in vitro models showed decrease of Slc2a4/GLUT4 expression and insulin sensitivity (only on in vivo model). AGEs increase inflammatory and endoplasmic reticulum stress ways by NFKB and chaperones respectively. In sume, The results reveal that AGEs repress Slc2a4/GLUT4 expression in muscle, in a reticulum endoplasmic stress- and inflammatory-mediated way. This effect contributes to impair plasma glucose clearance, highlighting AGEs reduction/inhibition as a target to improve glycemic control in diabetes.

O ciclo estral das cadelas difere das demais espécies domésticas. Estudos demonstraram que o aumento da concentração plasmática de P4 durante a fase luteínica das cadelas pode levar a alterações metabólicas como a resistência insulínica, acarretando complicações como Diabetes mellitus. A glicose é uma molécula transportada, na maioria das células, por proteínas transportadoras. O processo de instalação da resistência insulínica é caracterizado por alterações teciduais da expressão de algumas proteínas transportadoras de glicose, como o GLUT4. Atualmente 13 isoformas de proteínas transportadoras já foram seqüenciadas (GLUT1 ao GLUT13). O GLUT4 está presente nos músculos e no tecido adiposo, principalmente. Para avaliar se a expressão do GLUT 4 está presente nas células luteínicas e se esta expressão relaciona-se à produção de P4 e E2, 28 cadelas foram divididas em 7 grupos de acordo com os dias após a ovulação -p.o. (de 10 à 70 dias, n = 4 por grupo). Os ovários foram dissecados e congelados em nitrogênio líquido, o RNA extraído e o cDNA confeccionado e submetido ao PCR em tempo real. O gene GAPDH foi utilizado como controle endógeno para padronização da expressão do gene alvo. Foi coletado sangue para dosagem da glicemia, insulinemia, progesterona e estradiol. Para avaliar a regulação positiva do GLUT4 avaliamos também a expressão do mRNA do HIF-1&alpha;, destas mesmas cadelas. A expressão do GLUT4 apresentou tendência a aumento de expressão aos 20 dias (p. o.), quando comparado aos 10, 30 e 40 dias, pico de expressão aos 50 dias (p.o.), e então apresentou tendência a queda aos 60 e 70 dias p.o. Já a expressão do HIF-1&alpha; manteve-se muito semelhante através dos dias, tendendo a queda aos 10 e aos 40 dias pós ovulação, quando comparado com os demais grupos. Os resultados de dosagem de P4 e E2 variaram dentro do esperado para o diestro e não apresentaram correlação com a expressão de GLUT 4; a glicemia e insulina, aqui expressas através do índice HOMA (insulina x glicose % 22,5), apresentou pico aos 40 dias. Sabe-se que quanto mais alto o índice HOMA, menos este animal é sensível à insulina, ou seja, mais resistente à ela. Observou-se que o índice HOMA apresentou-se mais alto aos 40 dias, associado aos menores valores de expressão do GLUT4. Por outro lado, obtivemos o pico de expressão de GLUT4 aos 50 dias, quando o índice HOMA apresentou valores baixos. Sugere-se que a queda da P4 associada à elevação do estradiol plasmático possa influenciar o índice HOMA. Pode-se concluir que a expressão do GLUT4 no corpo lúteo de cadelas segue o padrão observado para tecidos sensíveis à insulina, nos quais existe uma maior expressão durante a fase de maior sensibilidade à insulina e diminuição drástica em fase de pré ou já instalada resistência insulínica. / The canine estral cycle differs from other domestic species. Some studies demonstrated that the increase of the plasmatic concentration of progesterone during canine luteinic phase can lead to metabolic alterations, such as insulinic resistance and may cause complications such as Diabetes mellitus. Glucose is a molecule that is transported in most cells by transporting proteins. The process of installation of the insulinic resistance is characterized by tissue alterations of the expression of some glucose transporting proteins, as GLUT4. Currenly, 13 isoforms of transporting proteins were sequenced (GLUT1 to GLUT13). GLUT4 is present mainly in muscle and fat tissue. In order to assess if GLUT4 expression is present in luteal cells, and if this expression is related to P4 and E2 production, 28 bitches were divided into 7 groups, in accordance with the days after the ovulation -p.o. (from 10 to 70 days, n=4 for group). The ovaries were dissected and frozen in liquid nitrogen. The RNA was extracted and the cDNA was made and submitted to real time PCR. GAPDH gene was used as endogenous conntrol to standardization of target gene expression. Blood was collected to glycemia, insulinemia, P4, and E2&beta; dosage. To assess the positive regulation of GLUT4, we also assessed HIF-1&alpha; mRNA expression of the same bitches. GLUT4 expression showed a tendency to increase the expression on the twentieth day (p.o.), when compared to the 10th, 30th, and 40th days, expression top on the 50 th day (p.o.) , and then, it showed a tendency to foll on the 60th and 70th days p.o. HIF-1&alpha; expression was very similar over the days, tending to fall on the 10th and 40th days post ovulation, when compared to other groups. P4 and E2&beta; dosage results varied according to thr expectations in diestrus and have not shown correlation with GLUT4 expression; glycemia and insulin, here expressed by HOMA index (insulin x glucose % 22,5) showed crest (highest point) on the 40 th day. It is knows that the higher the HOMA index, the less sensitive this animal is to insulin, it is, more resistant to it. It was observed that HOMA index was higher on the 40th day, associated to small values of the GLUT4 expression. Otherwise, the got the top of GLUT4 expression on the 50th day, when HOMA index showed low values. It has been suggested that P4 fall associated to the plasmatic E2 increase may influence HOMA index. We may conclude that GLUT4 expression into the corpus luteum of bitches follows the standard observed in insulin-sensitive tissues, in which there is a higher expression over the phase of higher sensitiveness to insulin and remarkable decrease in pre or even installed insulinic resistance.

O estudo investigou a ação sensibilizadora à insulina da glimepirida (Gp), em ratos MSG, resistentes à insulina. Animais controle (C) e MSG, e tratados (CG e MSG/G) ou não com Gp, foram submetidos a ITT; análise do GLUT4 no tecido adiposo (TAB), EDL, sóleo e coração; ensaios de translocação e captação de glicose/incorporação ao glicogênio no sóleo; dosagem do glicogênio e p-GSK3 no fígado. No TAB, mRNA e proteína GLUT4 se elevaram nos MSG, o que foi revertido pela Gp, efeito importante para não agravar a obesidade. No sóleo, o mRNA aumentou nos MSG, mas a proteína GLUT4 foi igual a C, e se elevou com a Gp. Sob estímulo insulínico, GLUT4 em membranas plasmáticas aumentou em ratos C e MSG/G. Captação de glicose e incorporação ao glicogênio muscular no sóleo, conteúdo de glicogênio e de p-GSK3 no fígado foram menores nos MSG. A Gp aumentou a expressão/translocação de GLUT4 em músculo de ratos MSG, melhorando a captação de glicose e glicogeniogênese neste tecido. Estes efeitos, mais o aumento da glicogeniogênese hepática, conferem à Gp ação sensibilizadora à insulina. / The study investigated the insulin sensitizer action of the glimepiride (Gp) in insulin- resistant MSG rats. Control (C) and MSG animals, non-treated or treated with Gp (CG and MSG/G) were submitted to ITT; GLUT4 analysis in adipose tissue (WAT), EDL, soleus and heart; GLUT4 translocation assays and glucose uptake/glycogen incorporation in soleus; glycogen and p-GSK3 analysis in the liver. In WAT, GLUT4 mRNA and protein increase in MSG rats was abolished by Gp, an effect important to avoid the aggravation of the obesity. In MSG soleus, GLUT4 mRNA increased but protein was similar to C, elevating after Gp. Under insulin stimulation, GLUT4 in plasma membrane increased in C and MSG/G only. Glucose uptake and incorporation to muscular glycogen in soleus, and glycogen/p-GSK-3 content in the liver were all lower in MSG rats. Gp increased GLUT4 expression/translocation in MSG muscle, improving glucose uptake and glycogenesis in this tissue. These effects, added to the higher hepatic glycogenesis confer the Gp its insulin sensitizer action.