Effects of leptin on insulin sensitivity in normal rats

To determine whether leptin has insulin sensitizing effects in normal rodents, we measured plasma glucose and insulin concentrations in male Sprague-Dawley rats treated with leptin or vehicle by continuous s.c. infusion for 48 h. In additional experiments, we examined the acute effect of i.v. leptin upon insulin sensitivity under conditions of clamped glycemia. Subcutaneous leptin was administered at 10.0 and 1.0 microg/h. To avoid confounding effects of differences in food intake, both leptin- and vehicle-treated rats were fasted during the 48-h period of infusion. Infusion of leptin, 10 microg/h, significantly reduced both plasma glucose and insulin. Leptin, 1.0 microg/h, also decreased plasma glucose and insulin, although the effects on insulin did not achieve statistical significance. Leptin at either dose did not alter body weight or epididymal fat mass compared with vehicle treated controls. Leptin, 10 microg/h, decreased circulating insulin-like growth factor-1 levels. No differences in GLUT-4 content in either in brown or epididymal fat were observed as a result of leptin-treatment. Leptin, 10 microg/h, significantly decreased urine osmolality, increased water intake, and reduced renal potassium excretion compared with vehicle-infused rats. In additional rats, we measured the acute effect of i.v. leptin on insulin sensitivity determined as whole body glucose utilization during hyperinsulinemic glucose clamps performed at glucose targets of 60 and 90 mg/100 ml. Glucose utilization was increased by 29% during the last 135 min of glycemia clamped at 60 mg/100 ml (P < 0.05) and by 30% during the last 135 min of glycemia clamped at 90 mg/dl (P < 0.01) in rats infused with leptin compared with vehicle. In summary, leptin increased insulin sensitivity in normal rats both under fasting conditions and in the presence of hyperinsulinemia at clamped glucose. These effects did not appear dependent on altered body weight. Leptin also altered salt and water metabolism under fasting conditions resulting in increased water intake and more dilute urine.