title: Vitamin E protects the insulin sensitivity and redox balance in rat L6 muscle cells exposed to oxidative stress.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effect of reactive oxygen species (ROS) on insulin action is unclear. This study was carried out to explore the effect of prolonged low grade oxidative stress and vitamin E treatment on cultured rat L6 muscle cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  L6 myotubes were incubated with vitamin E for 18 h and treated with H2O2 generating system for 12 h. Insulin stimulated glucose uptake, total antioxidant capacity and reduced glutathione concentration were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a marked decrease in insulin stimulated glucose transport in L6 cells exposed to H2O2 generating system. Pretreatment with vitamin E attenuates the effect of H2O2 on insulin action. Treatment with H2O2 caused a significant reduction in the levels of reduced glutathione and total antioxidant capacity, these alterations were reversed by vitamin E pretreatment. Vitamin E per se had no effect on insulin stimulated glucose transport in cells not exposed to oxidative stress.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, our observations indicate that vitamin E improves the free radical defense system potential and prevents oxidative stress induced insulin resistance in rat L6 muscle cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Pondicherry-605 006, India.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vinayaga Moorthi
authors.forename: Zachariah
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bobby
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Selvaraj
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Sridhar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D002460:Cell Line; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D032342:Muscle Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction / Q000187:drug effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D051381:Rats; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014810:Vitamin E; D005947:Glucose