Glycemia and exercise training alter glucose transport and GLUT4 in the Zucker rat

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of chronic hyperglycemia and/or exercise training on the muscle concentration of the insulin-responsive glucose transporter protein, GLUT4, and on maximally insulin-stimulated hindlimb muscle glucose transport. Five-wk-old lean and obese Zucker rats were randomly assigned to sham-operated control (CTL) or 90% pancreatectomized (PX) groups. Obese-PX animals were further randomized into sedentary or exercise trained groups (15-wk treadmill running for 2 h.d-1, 5 d.wk-1, 15% grade, at 15-18 m.min-1). Muscle GLUT4 protein content and maximally insulin-stimulated glucose transport were determined in gastrocnemius, plantaris, and soleus muscles. At 20 wk, lean-PX displayed mild fasting hyperglycemia but normal insulin levels. Obese-PX rats had insulin levels similar to lean-CTL rats but had severe hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia in lean-PX was associated with a 28% decrease in maximal glucose transport and a 65% decrease in muscle GLUT4 (P < 0.05) compared with lean-CTL. In obese-PX, maximal glucose transport was not affected, but muscle GLUT4 was reduced by 62% (P < 0.05) compared to obese-CTL. Exercise training obese-PX reduced hyperglycemia, increased maximal glucose transport by 45%, and increased muscle GLUT4 by > 2-fold (P < 0.05) compared with obese-CTL. Thus, hyperglycemia associated with PX may be an important factor in the reduction of muscle GLUT4 levels in lean and obese rats. The reduced GLUT4 was accompanied by reduced maximal glucose transport in lean but not obese rats. Exercise training reduced hyperglycemia, normalized glucose transport, and increased muscle GLUT4 in obese-PX.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)