title: Effect of insulin on amino acid uptake and protein turnover in skeletal muscle from septic rats. Evidence for insulin resistance of protein breakdown.
abstract: We investigated the effect of different concentrations of insulin (0, 10, 1 X 10(2), 1 X 10(3), 1 X 10(4), and 1 X 10(5) mU/L [0, 70, 7 X 10(2), 7 X 10(3), 7 X 10(4), and 7 X 10(5) pmol/L]) on amino acid (alpha-aminoisobutyric acid) uptake and protein synthesis and breakdown in incubated extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and soleus muscles of rats. We studied three groups: untreated, fed rats; sham-operated rats; and septic rats. Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture. The alpha-aminoisobutyric acid uptake was increased by insulin in all three groups. Protein synthesis was maximally stimulated by 30% to 40% by 1 X 10(2) mU/L (7 X 10(2) pmol/L) of insulin in all three groups. Protein degradation in soleus muscle was not affected by insulin. In EDL muscles from untreated and sham-operated rats, protein breakdown was reduced by 15% to 20% by 1 X 10(2) mU/L (7 X 10(2) pmol/L) of insulin. In contrast, protein breakdown was not inhibited by insulin in septic EDL muscle until the concentration of the hormone was increased to 1 X 10(4) mU/L (7 X 10(4) pmol/L), at which concentration the hormonal effect was less than half that in nonseptic muscle. The results suggest a postreceptor insulin resistance of protein breakdown in septic muscle, while the response to the hormone of amino acid transport and protein synthesis was not altered in sepsis.
mesh_terms: D000613:Aminobutyrates / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000378:metabolism; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D000613:Aminobutyrates; D007328:Insulin; C012223:alpha-aminobutyric acid