title: Effects of insulin therapy on weight gain and fat distribution in the HF/HS-STZ rat model of type 2 diabetes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Insulin therapy is required for many patients with the obesity-related disorder type 2 diabetes, but is also associated with weight gain. The specific location of adipose tissue location matters to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. We investigated effects of exogenous insulin on fat distribution in the high-fat/high-sucrose fed rat treated with streptozotocin (HF/HS-STZ) rat model of type 2 diabetes. We also examined effects of insulin therapy on circulating CVD markers, including adiponectin, triglycerides (TGs), total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male SD rats were HF/HS fed for 5 weeks followed by STZ treatment to mimic the hallmarks of human obesity-associated insulin resistance followed by hyperglycemia. Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography were used to determine total fat, abdominal fat distribution and liver fat before and after insulin therapy in HF/HS-STZ rats. HbA1c%, TGs, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein and adiponectin were analyzed by conventional methods adapted for rats.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Insulin therapy lowered HbA1c (P<0.001), increased body weight (P<0.001), increased lean mass (P<0.001) and led to a near doubling of total fat mass (P<0.001), with the highest increase in subcutaneous adipose tissue as compared with visceral adipose tissue (P<0.001). No changes in liver fat were observed after insulin therapy, whereas plasma TG and cholesterol levels were decreased (P<0.001, P<0.01), while high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and adiponectin levels were elevated (P<0.01, P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using the HF/HS-STZ rat as an animal model for type 2 diabetes, we find that insulin therapy modulates fat distribution. Specifically, our data show that insulin has a relatively positive effect on CVD-associated parameters, including abdominal fat distribution, lean body mass, adiponectin, TGs and HDL in HF/HS-STZ rats, despite a modest gain in weight.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Endocrinology Research Section, Panum Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Skovsø
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Research Unit, Novo Nordisk A/S, Måløv, Denmark.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Damgaard
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Research Unit, Novo Nordisk A/S, Måløv, Denmark.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Fels
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Research Unit, Novo Nordisk A/S, Måløv, Denmark.
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Research Unit, Novo Nordisk A/S, Måløv, Denmark.
authors.forename: X A
authors.initials: XA
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Research Unit, Novo Nordisk A/S, Måløv, Denmark.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rolin
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Endocrinology Research Section, Panum Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Holst
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001823:Body Composition; D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000473:pathology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000473:pathology*; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000473:pathology; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol