[The impact of pioglitazone on plasma homocysteine high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance in rats].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of pioglitazone on plasma homocysteine in insulin resistant rats induced by high-fat diet.


METHODS
24 Wistar rats were randomized into 3 groups: a control group (n = 8) was fed with normal feeds. High-fat diet was given to a high-fat group and a pioglitazone group. Pioglitazone (10 mg/kg) was then administered by gavage daily for 11 weeks to the pioglitazone group. At week 11, glucose tolerance test was performed, and serum insulin, fasting glucose and plasma homocysteine were detected. Visceral adipose was weighted and then the ratio of visceral adipose over body weight calculated.


RESULTS
Fasting glucose, fasting insulin, insulin resistance index (HOMA IR), and the visceral adipose were significantly different among the 3 groups. Fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HOMA IR, and visceral adipose were all significantly lower in the pioglitazone group than those in the high fat group (P < 0.01). Plasma homocysteine decreased significantly in the pioglitazone-treated rats [(8.8 +/- 1.39) micromol/L] as compared with the other two groups [control group: (9.95 +/- 2.40) micromol/L and high fat group: (35.7 +/- 14.1) micromol/L]. Correlation analysis showed that fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HOMA IR and visceral adipose were all factors influencing the plasma homocysteine. Stepwise regression test showed only fasting glucose (r = 0.504, P = 0.031) and HOMA IR (r = 0.302, P = 0.046) independently affected the level of plasma homocysteine.


CONCLUSIONS
It is concluded that pioglitazone can lower plasma homocysteine in insulin resistant Wistar rats induced by high-fat diet.
Yang
Guo-Qing
GQ
Department of Endocrinology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China.
Lu
Ju-Ming
JM
Liu
Hong-Fang
HF
Ma
Fang-Ling
FL
Zou
Xiao-Man
XM
Pan
Chang-Yu
CY
D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D000077205:Pioglitazone; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D045162:Thiazolidinediones / Q000494:pharmacology*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D004041:Dietary Fats; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D006710:Homocysteine; D000077205:Pioglitazone