Effects of chronic hypoxia on the whole-body insulin action in rats

The effect of chronic hypoxia on the whole-body insulin action in rats was investigated. Rats were kept in a hypobaric hypoxia chamber maintained at a simulated altitude of 4000 m for 10 weeks. At the end of the experimental period, the mean body weight of the hypoxic rats was significantly lower than that of the control rats. The muscle weight to body ratio of the quadriceps muscle in hypoxic rats was larger than that in control rats, but those of the gastrocnemius, soleus, and extensor digitorum longus muscles did not differ between the control and hypoxic rats. On the other hand, the epididymal fat pads of hypoxic rats were markedly smaller than those of the control rats. The results of a euglycemic clamp experiment with infusions of 14 and 3.6 mU insulin.kg-1.min-1 indicated that the steady-state glucose infusion rate was not statistically different between hypoxic and control rats. It is suggested that chronic hypoxia did not influence the whole-body insulin action on glucose transport activity.