title: Dan-gua fang improves glycolipid metabolic disorders by promoting hepatic adenosine 5'-monophosphate activated protein kinase expression in diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of Dan-gua Fang on adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP) activated protein kinase (AMPK) α expression in liver and subsequent improvement of glucose and lipid metabolism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty 13-week-old diabetic Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats were randomly divided into model, Dan-gua Fang, metformin and simvastatin groups (n=10 for each), and fed high-fat diet ad libitum. Ten Wistar rats were used as normal group and fed normal diet. After 24 weeks, liver expression of AMPKα mRNA was assessed by real-time PCR. AMPKα and phospho-AMPKα protein expression in liver was evaluated by Western blot. Liver histomorphology was carried out after hematoxylin-eosin staining, and blood glucose (BG), glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), food intake and body weight recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Similar AMPKα mRNA levels were found in the Dan-gua Fang group and normal group, slightly higher than the values obtained for the remaining groups (P<0.05). AMPKα protein expression in the Dan-gua Fang group animals was similar to other diabetic rats, whereas phospho-AMPKα (Thr-172) protein levels were markedly higher than in the metformin group and simvastatin group (P<0.05), respectively. However, phosphor-AMPKα/AMPKα ratios were similar in all groups. Dan-gua Fang reduced fasting blood glucose with similar strength to metformin, and was superior in reducing cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol as well as improving low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in comparison with simvastatin and metformin. Dan-gua Fang decreases plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dan-gua Fang, while treating phlegm-stasis, could decrease BG and lipid in type 2 diabetic GK rats fed with high-fat diet, and effectively protect liver histomorphology and function. This may be partly explained by increased AMPK expression in liver. Therefore, Dan-gua Fang might be an ideal drug for comprehensive intervention for glucose and lipid metabolism disorders in type 2 diabetes mellitus.
authors.affiliation: Fujian Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, 350108, China.
authors.forename: Yuan-long
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Su-ping
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xian-pei
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Heng
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Peng-hui
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Liu-qing
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xu-dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Tong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Xin-ling
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Si-xin
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010766:Phosphorylation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D006017:Glycolipids; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C559220:dan gua-fang; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases
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