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Updated: Feb 14, 2026

Glucose Uptake Measurement and Response to Insulin Stimulation in In Vitro Cultured Human Primary Myotubes
Published on: June 25, 2017
Effect of baicalin on GLUT4 expression and glucose uptake in myotubes of rats
Penghua Fang1, Mei Yu2, Wen Min2
1Department of Physiology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine Hanlin College, Taizhou, Jiangsu 225300, China; Department of Endocrinology, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225001, China.
Aims:
Although baicalin could attenuate obesity-induced insulin resistance, the detailed mechanism of baicalin on glucose uptake has not been sufficiently explored as yet. The aim of this study was to survey if baicalin might facilitate glucose uptake and to explore its signal mechanisms in L6 myotubes.
Materials And Methods:
L6 myotubes were treated with 100, 200, 400 μM baicalin for 6 h, 12 h and 24 h in this study. Then 2-NBDG and insulin signal protein levels in myotubes of L6 cells were examined.
Key Findings:
We discovered that administration of baicalin enhanced GLUT4, PGC-1α, pP38MAPK, pAKT and pAS160 contents, as well as GLUT4 mRNA and PGC-1α mRNA levels in L6 myotubes. The beneficial metabolic changes elicited by baicalin were abrogated in myotubes of L6 by P38MAPK or AKT inhibitors.
Significance:
These results suggest that baicalin promoted glucose uptake in myotubes by differential regulation on P38MAPK and AKT activity. In conclusion, these data provide insight that baicalin is a powerful and promising agent for the treament of hyperglycemia via AKT/AS160/GLUT4 and P38MAPK/PGC1α/GLUT4 pathway.
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