Effect of Thyroid Status on Insulin Action in Rat Adipocytes and Skeletal Muscle

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Abstract

Isolated adipocytes and soleus muscles prepared from mature rats, rendered hypothyroid by a low iodine diet and propylthiouracil, markedly resisted the ability of insulin to increase glucose utilization. In adipocytes, the sum of basal d-(1-14C)-glucose conversion to CO2, glyceride-glycerol, and fatty acid was unaltered by hypothyroidism, although conversion to fatty acid was decreased. The response of each of these metabolic pathways to insulin at all concentrations tested was greatly diminished in hypothyroid rat adipocytes. 3-O-Methylglucose transport rates in the presence of insulin were not significantly different in adipocytes from hypothyroid as compared with euthyroid rats, although basal transport rates were significantly higher in the hypothyroid state. Lipolysis and cyclic AMP accumulation in adipocytes from hypothyroid rats in response to theophylline were markedly diminished compared with euthyroid controls, but insulin was about as effective in inhibiting lipolysis in these cells as in those derived from euthyroid animals. The binding of 125I-insulin to adipocytes at several hormone concentrations was also shown to be unaffected by hypothyroidism.

Authors

Michael P. Czech, Craig C. Malbon, Keith Kerman, Wendy Gitomer, Paul F. Pilch