Microvascular recruitment is an early insulin effect that regulates skeletal muscle glucose uptake in vivo.
Insulin increases glucose disposal into muscle. In addition, in vivo insulin elicits distinct nitric oxide synthase-dependent vascular responses to increase total skeletal muscle blood flow and to recruit muscle capillaries (by relaxing resistance and terminal arterioles, respectively). In the current study, we compared the temporal sequence of vascular and metabolic responses to a 30-min physiological infusion of insulin (3 mU. min(-1). kg(-1), euglycemic clamp) or saline in rat skeletal muscle in vivo. We used contrast-enhanced ultrasound to continuously quantify microvascular volume. Insulin recruited microvasculature within 5-10 min (P < 0.05), and this preceded both activation of insulin-signaling pathways and increases in glucose disposal in muscle, as well as changes in total leg blood flow. Moreover, l-NAME (N(omega)-nitro-l-arginine-methyl ester), a specific inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, blocked this early microvascular recruitment (P < 0.05) and at least partially inhibited early increases in muscle glucose uptake (P < 0.05). We conclude that insulin rapidly recruits skeletal muscle capillaries in vivo by a nitric oxide-dependent action, and the increase in capillary recruitment may contribute to the subsequent glucose uptake.
Vincent
Michelle A
MA
Department of Internal Medicine, Box 801410, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.
Clerk
Lucy H
LH
Lindner
Jonathan R
JR
Klibanov
Alexander L
AL
Clark
Michael G
MG
Rattigan
Stephen
S
Barrett
Eugene J
EJ
D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003287:Contrast Media; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005947:Glucose / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects; D008863:Microspheres; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism*; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014463:Ultrasonography
D003287:Contrast Media; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007328:Insulin; D005947:Glucose; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester