title: Plasma glucose-lowering effect of beta-endorphin in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
abstract: The effect of beta-endorphin on plasma glucose levels was investigated in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats (STZ-diabetic rats). A dose-dependent lowering of plasma glucose was observed in the fasting STZ-diabetic rat fifteen minutes after intravenous injection of beta-endorphin. The plasma glucose-lowering effect of beta-endorphin was abolished by pretreatment with naloxone or naloxonazine at doses sufficient to block opioid mu-receptors. Also, unlike wild-type diabetic mice, beta-endorphin failed to induce its plasma glucose-lowering effect in the opioid mu-receptor knock-out diabetic mice. In isolated soleus muscle, beta-endorphin enhanced the uptake of radioactive glucose in a concentration-dependent manner. Stimulatory effects of beta-endorphin on glycogen synthesis were also seen in hepatocytes isolated from STZ-diabetic rats. The blockade of these actions by naloxone and naloxonazine indicated the mediation of opioid mu-receptors. In the presence of U73312, the specific inhibitor of phospholipase C (PLC), the uptake of radioactive glucose into isolated soleus muscle induced by beta-endorphin was reduced in a concentration-dependent manner, but it was not affected by U73343, the negative control of U73312. Moreover, chelerythrine and GF 109203X diminished the stimulatory action of beta-endorphin on the uptake of radioactive glucose at a concentration sufficient to inhibit protein kinase C (PKC). The data obtained suggest that activating opioid mu-receptors by beta-endorphin may increase glucose utilization in peripheral tissues via the PLC-PKC pathway to lower plasma glucose in diabetic rats lacking insulin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan, ROC. jtcheng@mail.ncku.edu.tw
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Tzeng
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: T Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005947:Glucose / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009270:Naloxone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; D009270:Naloxone; D001615:beta-Endorphin; C034643:naloxonazine; D005947:Glucose