Concentrations of Insulin and of Insulin Receptors in the Brain are Independent of Peripheral Insulin Levels: STUDIES OF OBESE AND STREPTOZOTOCIN-TREATED RODENTS

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Abstract

In view of the potent influences of the central nervous system on glucose metabolism and on its hormonal regulators, and our recent finding of insulin and insulin receptors throughout the central nervous systsem, we have examined extreme conditions of hyperinsulinemia (obese mice) and hypoinsulinemia (streptozotocin-treated rats) with respect to changes in brain insulin and receptor content. Sprague-Dawley rats given streptozotocin (100 mg/kg body wt) developed severe diabetes and by 48 h showed no change in brain insulin. Rats given 65 mg/kg streptozotocin also had severe diabetes, but survived longer. Both at 7 d and at 30 d after streptozotocin treatment there was no significant change in brain insulin or in brain content of insulin receptors, despite the fact that peripheral hepatic receptors were elevated and pancreatic insulin was markedly depleted.

Authors

Jana Havrankova, Jesse Roth