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Glucose Uptake Measurement and Response to Insulin Stimulation in In Vitro Cultured Human Primary Myotubes
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Transient stimulation of glucose metabolism by insulin in the 1-day chick embryo

A Baroffio, E Raddatz, M Markert

    Journal of Cellular Physiology
    |May 1, 1986
    PubMed

    Insights

    Insulin boosts glucose metabolism in early chick embryos (18-24 hours incubation). This effect is transient, with specific concentration ranges impacting different embryonic tissues, suggesting an in ovo role for insulin.

    Area of Science:

    • Developmental Biology
    • Embryology
    • Metabolic Regulation

    Background:

    • Insulin is a key metabolic regulator in vertebrates.
    • Its role during early embryonic development, particularly in avian models, remains incompletely understood.
    • Chick embryos offer a unique in vitro model for studying early developmental processes.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the effects of insulin on glucose metabolism in early chick embryos.
    • To determine the developmental stages and tissue-specific sensitivity to insulin.
    • To elucidate the metabolic pathways influenced by insulin during embryogenesis.

    Main Methods:

    • Chick embryos were explanted in vitro during the first 30 hours of incubation.
    • Insulin's effect on glucose consumption and oxygen consumption was measured.
    • Aerobic lactate production was analyzed to assess metabolic fate of glucose.

    Main Results:

    • Insulin significantly stimulated glucose consumption in 18-hour (gastrula) and 24-hour (neurula) chick embryos.
    • Both embryonic area pellucida and area opaca responded, with the area pellucida showing greater sensitivity at lower insulin concentrations.
    • Insulin did not affect oxygen consumption but increased aerobic lactate production, indicating a shift towards glycolysis.

    Conclusions:

    • Chick embryos exhibit transient sensitivity to insulin during specific developmental windows (gastrula and neurula stages).
    • Insulin appears to specifically modulate glucose metabolism in a dose-dependent and tissue-specific manner during early development.
    • These findings suggest a potential role for insulin in regulating embryonic energy metabolism in ovo.

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