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Updated: Aug 12, 2026
Hyperinsulinemic-Euglycemic Clamp in the Conscious Rat
Published on: February 8, 2011
[Experimental study on berberin raised insulin sensitivity in insulin resistance rat models]
Objective:
To observe the effects of berberin on insulin sensitivity in high fat diet rats.
Methods:
Before and after ingesting berberin, glucose insulin tolerance test was used to measure the insulin sensitivity, and determining fasting blood glucose, insulin, blood lipid and muscle triglyceride content.
Results:
Compared with normal feeding rats, high fat feeding impaired insulin action (5.02 +/- 1.08 vs 8.72 +/- 0.91, P < 0.005), decreased liver glycogen level and raised fasting blood glucose, insulin and blood lipid levels. Berberin and metformin improved insulin resistance (6.31 +/- 0.95 and 6.24 +/- 0.65) and liver glycogen level in insulin resistance models, but had no effect on blood glucose, insulin, lipid levels and muscle triglyceride depots.
Conclusion:
It is confirmed that berberin could raise insulin sensitivity of high fat diet rats similar to metformin.
