title: Effect of insulin in combination with selenium on blood glucose and PI3K-mediated GLUT4 expression in skeletal muscle of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the effect of low doses of insulin (1 U/kg/day) and selenium (180 microg/kg/day) in combination on general physiological parameters, and on PI3K and GLUT4 levels in skeletal muscle of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diabetic rats were treated with insulin, selenium, and insulin and selenium in combination for four weeks. The levels of blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c were estimated, and the levels of P13K and GLUT4 in skeletal muscle were examined by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Insulin in combination with selenium could significantly lower blood glucose and HbAlc levels, and restore the disturbances in PI3K and GLUT4 levels in skeletal muscle. Treatment with insulin was only partially effective in the restoration of diabetic alterations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that there was cooperation between insulin and selenium, and that treatment of diabetic rats with combined doses of insulin and selenium was effective in the normalization of blood glucose and correction of altered PI3K and GLUT4 distribution in skeletal muscle of diabetic rats.
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, PR China. xtj1118@163.com
authors: T J
authors: TJ
authors: Xu
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Liu
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Zen
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Zhang
authors: B X
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authors: Yuan