Infusion of beta-endorphin improves insulin resistance in fructose-fed rats.
In an attempt to probe the effect of beta-endorphin on insulin resistance, we used Wistar rats that were fed fructose-rich chow to induce insulin resistance. Insulin action on glucose disposal rate (GDR) was measured using the hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp technique, in which glucose (variable), insulin (40 mU/kg/min), and beta-endorphin (6 ng/kg/min) or vehicle were initiated simultaneously and continued for 120 min. A marked reduction in insulin-stimulated GDR was observed in fructose-fed rats compared to normal control rats. Infusion of beta-endorphin reversed the value of GDR, which was inhibited by naloxone and naloxonazine each at doses sufficient to block opioid mu-receptors. Opioid mu-receptors may therefore be activated by beta-endorphin to improve insulin resistance. Next, soleus muscle was isolated to investigate the effect of beta-endorphin on insulin signals. Insulin resistance in rats induced by excess fructose was associated with the impaired insulin receptor (IR), tyrosine autophosphorylation, and insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 protein content in addition to the significant decrease in IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation in soleus muscle. This impaired glucose transportation was also due to signaling defects that included an attenuated p85 regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) and Akt serine phosphorylation. However, IR protein levels were not markedly changed in rats with insulin resistance. beta-endorphin infusion reversed the fructose-induced decrement in the insulin-signaling cascade with increased GDR. Apart from IR protein levels, infusion of beta-endorphin reversed the decrease in protein expression for the IRS-1, p85 regulatory subunit of PI3-kinase, and Akt serine phosphorylation in soleus muscle in fructose-fed rats. The decrease in insulin-stimulated protein expression of glucose transporter subtype 4 (GLUT 4) in fructose-fed rats returned to near-normal levels after beta-endorphin infusion. Infusion of beta-endorphin may improve insulin resistance by modulating the insulin-signaling pathway to reverse insulin responsiveness.
Graduate Institute of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, ROC.
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D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D005632:Fructose / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D055504:Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011972:Receptor, Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D012694:Serine; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000378:metabolism; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000494:pharmacology*
D005632:Fructose; D005947:Glucose; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4; D007328:Insulin; D055504:Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins; D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D011972:Receptor, Insulin; D012694:Serine; D014443:Tyrosine; D001615:beta-Endorphin; C526296:Irs1 protein, rat; C495694:Slc2a4 protein, rat; C494920:Akt1 protein, rat