Increased uptake and utilization of glucose by diaphragms of rats exposed to chronic centrifugation

Weaning female Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 2.76 or 4.15 G for periods ranging from 2 to 20 wk. The isolated diaphragm tissues from these rats were studied in vitro to determine the uptake of glucose and its utilization to CO2 and glycogen. The diaphragm muscle tissues obtained from centrifuged rats showed higher rates of glucose uptake and 14CO2 production from [U-14C]glucose than those obtained from noncentrifuged controls, but no significant differences in the rate of incorporation of [U-14C]glucose into glycogen were observed. Rats centrifuged for 12 wk at 4.15 G continued to show an increase in diaphragm tissue glucose uptake for periods up to 2 wk after return to normal gravity. The stimulating effect of insulin on the uptake of glucose and its incorporation into glycogen was much higher in the diaphragms of centrifuged rats. From the results of this study, it is concluded that one of the adaptive responses of rats to chronic centrifugation is an increase in glucose metabolism of their muscle tissues.