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Objective: To explore the aging-related changes of insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity among normal glucose tolerance (NGT) individuals in China., Methods: A total of 34 293 individuals were recruited. All of them were described as NGT by 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (75 g OGTT) according to the diagnostic criterion of WHO, 1999. HOMA-β, ΔI(30)/ΔG(30), InsAuc30/GluAuc30, InsAuc120/GluAuc120 were calculated to estimate insulin secretion; HOMA-IR and Matsuda index measured to estimate insulin sensitivity; Disposition index: DI(30) and DI(120) were used to estimate β-cell function., Results: HOMA-β, ΔI(30)/ΔG(30), InsAuc30/GluAuc30 and InsAuc120/GluAuc120 were all lower in the elder group then the younger group (P trend < 0.05). The mean HOMA-β dropped from 192 ± 16 (20 - 29 years) to 115 ± 7 (70 or elder) among men and from 162 ± 8 (20 - 29 years) to 120 ± 12 (70 or elder) among women. The mean ΔI(30)/ΔG(30) dropped from 20.0 ± 2.0 (20 - 29 years) to 8.6 ± 0.6 (70 or elder) among men and from 22.4 ± 1.6 (20 - 29 years) to 12.5 ± 1.7 (70 or elder) among women. The above index were negatively correlated with age in univariate linear regression (P < 0.05), the results among men and overall still existed after adjusted for BMI and waist circumference in multivariate linear regression, while the relation between HOMA-β and age disappeared among women. Matsuda Index was positively correlated with age (β = 0.02, P = 0.001) and HOMA-IR were negatively correlated with age (β = -0.01, P = 0.001) among men even after adjusted for BMI and waist circumference and the above correlation between Matsuda Index/HOMA-IR and ageing was not significant until adjusted for BMI and waist circumference in multivariate linear regression. Among women HOMA-IR (β = -0.01, P = 0.000), Matsuda index (β = 0.03, P = 0.000). DI(30) and DI(120) were negatively correlated with age in both univariate and multivariate linear regression., Conclusions: The basal, postchallenge insulin secretion and postchallenge islet compensatory function decreases with ageing, while insulin sensitivity does not deteriorate with ageing and its related change of body composition and weight gain.

Background: Currently it is unclear whether lipid accumulation occurs in a particular sequence and its relationship with whole body insulin resistance (IR). This study aimed to answer this question., Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were fed on a normal or a high-fat diet for 20 weeks. Serum triglycerides (TG), serum free fatty acids (FFA), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and liver and skeletal muscle TG were measured. The glucose infusion rate (GIR) and mRNA levels of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT-1) in the liver and skeletal muscle were determined at different stages., Results: Compared with rats fed on the normal diet, serum FFA was not significantly increased in rats fed on the high-fat diet until 20 weeks. In contrast, liver TG was significantly increased by the high-fat diet by four weeks (20-fold; P < 0.01), and remained elevated until the end of the study. However, skeletal muscle TG was not significantly increased by the high-fat diet until 20 weeks (10.6-fold; P < 0.01), and neither was the FPG. The GIR was significantly reduced (1.6-fold; P < 0.01) by the high-fat diet after 8 weeks. The mRNA levels of ACC gradually increased over time and CPT-1 decreased over time, in both the liver and skeletal muscle in rats fed the high-fat diet., Conclusions: Lipid accumulation in the liver occurs earlier than lipid accumulation in the skeletal muscle. Fatty liver may be one of the early markers of whole body IR. Changes in the gene expression levels of ACC and CPT-1 may have important roles in the process of IR development.

Objective: To study the effects of fenofibrate (FF), a peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) alpha activator, on the expression of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT-1) mRNA in liver and muscle and its influence on insulin sensitivity., Methods: Thirty-two normal 8 week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: normal control group, fed with normal food for 3 weeks (NC group, n = 10), high fat diet group, fed with high fat food (HF group, n = 10), and high fat diet supplemented with FF group, fed with high fat food and given with gastric perfusion of FF (50 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) (FF group, n = 12). Fast serum triglyceride (TG) level was tested by automatic biochemical analyzer after 8-10 h fasting. Euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp method was used to calculate the glucose infusion rate (GIR) so as to evaluate the insulin sensitivity. By the end of experiment the rats were killed with their internal organs taken out. The triglyceride (TG) contents of liver and skeletal muscle were measured using Folch method. Real-time PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression. of CPT-1 in the liver and skeletal muscles., Results: As compared with the NC group, the TG levels of serum, liver, and skeletal muscle of the HF group were higher than those of the NC group by 0.45-fold, 2.14-fold, and 10.64-fold respectively. The GIR of the HF group was (6.2 +/- 0.8) mg x kg(-1) x min(-1), significantly lower than that of the NC group (15.8 +/- 2.1) mg x kg(-1) x min(-1), (P < 0.01), and that of the P < 0.01. The CPT-1 mRNA expression in liver of the HF group was not significantly different from that of the NC group (P > 0.05); the expression of CPT-1 mRNA in skeletal muscle of the HF group was lower than that of the NC group by 71% (P < 0.01). The CPT-1 mRNA expression in liver and skeletal muscle of the FF group were significantly higher than those of the HF group by 1.00 and 1.05 times respectively (both P < 05). The GIR was negatively correlated with the levels in the liver (r = -0.87, P < 0.01) and in the skeletal muscle (r = -0.78, P < 0.01)., Conclusion: Fenofibrate promotes the oxygenation of fatty acids by up-regulating the CPT-1 mRNA expression in the liver and skeletal muscles, thus improving the insulin sensitivity.

Objective: To observe the relationship between changes of genes expression related to lipid metabolism and insulin resistance induced by high fat diet in SD rats., Methods: Normal 8-week old male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups. They were fed with normal chow (NC, n = 10), high fat diet (HF, n = 10) and high fat diet supplemented with pioglitazone 15 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) (HP, n = 12). The TG content of liver and skeletal muscle of the rats was measured. Glucose infusion rate (GIR) was used to evaluate the insulin sensitivity by using euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp method. Genes expression was investigated using real-time PCR method., Results: After high fat feeding for 20 weeks, the serum TG, the content of TG in the liver and skeletal muscle of the rats in the HF group increased 0.45, 2.28 and 9.31 fold respectively as compared with those in the NC group. The change of TG content in the liver and skeletal muscle was associated with the reduction of GIR [(6.16 +/- 0.75) mg x kg(-1) x min(-1) vs (15.82 +/- 2.10) mg x kg(-1).min(-1) (P < 0.01)]. As compared with the NC group, the expression of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) and fatty-acid synthase (FAS) gene in the HF group was enhanced by 28.2% and 21.3%, respectively (P < 0.05). In addition, the expression of acetyl-CoA carboxylase1 (ACC1) mRNA in the liver increased 48.3% (P < 0.05), increased 101.1% (P < 0.01) and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT-1) decreased 71.0% (P < 0.01) in the skeletal muscle in the rats of HF group. As compared with those in the HF group, GIR increased 1.54 fold in the HP group and on the contrary, serum TG, liver TG and muscle TG decreased about 66%, 64.5% and 59.6% respectively in the HP group (P < 0.05). Accordingly, the expression of FAS and HSL in the adipose tissue and the expression of ACC1 in the liver were reduced (P < 0.05) and the expression of CPT-1 was enhanced and ACC2 was reduced in the muscle (P < 0.01) in the HP group., Conclusions: The changing expression of genes related to lipid metabolism may play a role in the accumulation of lipids in non-adipose tissue and the induction of insulin resistance in rats fed with high fat diet.

Objective: To study the changes of inflammatory path molecules in the islet alpha cells in high-fat-diet fed plus beta cell-deleted rat models and the effects of pioglitazone intervention., Methods: Forty five normal male SD rats, 8 week old, were randomly divided into 3 groups, i.e., a normal diet group (NC), a high fat diet fed group (HF), and a high fat diet fed and pioglitazone treated group (HP, pioglitazone 15 mg kg(-1) d(-1)). At the end of twenty weeks of feeding, fasting serum insulin (FIns), glucagon, free fatty acid (FFA) and high sensitive C reactive protein (hsCRP) were determined. Glucose infusion rate (GIR) was measured by using euglycemic hyperinsulinemia clamp to evaluate the peripheral insulin resistance. The contents of glucagon in perfusion medium during islet cell perfusion was measured with RIA. At the same time, beta cell-deleted rat models were established by injecting large dose streptozocin (100 mg/kg) in 8 rats in each of the three groups, i.e., HF-B group, P-B group and NC-B group. Five days later, the rats were sacrificed and the pancreatic islets were isolated and collected. The expression of NF-kappaB and inhibitor kappaBalpha (IkappaBalpha) gene in the islets was detected with real-time PCR., Results: (1) GIR was decreased significantly in HF group as compared with NC group (P < 0.01). The concentrations of serum FIns, glucagon, FFA and hsCRP in HF group were higher than those in NC group. Pioglitazone intervention could reverse these effects. (2) 16.7 mmol/L glucose could inhibit the glucagon secretion by the islet alpha cells of the NC group rats, but not of the HF group rats. Pioglitazone intervention could reverse these effects. (3) The gene expression of NF-kappaB was significantly increased by 20.5% in the HF-B group than in the NC-B group (P < 0.01). In contrast, the expression of IkappaBalpha was significantly decreased by 24.3% (P < 0.01). The expression of NF-kappaB and IkappaBalpha mRNAs in HP-B group, when compared with that of HF-B group, was improved 78.3% and 58.8%, respectively., Conclusions: High-fat-diet feeding induces islet alpha cell insulin resistance and activates the mRNA expression of inflammatory path molecules in beta cell-deleted rat models and it may relate with the increased plasma FFA concentration. Pioglitazone intervention can reverse these effects.

Objective: To study the changes of insulin signal transduction molecules in islet alpha cells in high-fat-diet plus beta cell-deleting rat models and its underlying mechanism., Methods: Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into 2 equal groups and fed with high-fat-diet (HF group) or normal diet (normal control group, NC group) respectively. At the end of twenty-week feeding, the fasting serum insulin (Ins), glucagon (Glc), free fatty acid (FFA), and triglyceride (TG were measured. The glucose infusion rate (GIR) was measured by using euglycemic hyperinsulinemia clamp to evaluate the peripheral insulin resistance. At the same time, large dose streptozocin (100 mg/kg) was injected so as to establish beta cell-deleting rat models, i.e., HF-B group (n = 8) and NC-B group (n = 8). Five days later, the rats of the HF-B and NC-B subgroups were sacrificed, and the pancreatic islets were isolated and collected. The expression of Glc, insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), IRS-2, and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) gene in the islets were detected by RT-PCR., Results: (1) The serum FFA, insulin and Glc concentrations of the HF group were 508 (394 - 622) micromol/L, 23.7 (14.0 - 33.4) mIU/L, and 345 (298.6 - 391.4) pg/ml respectively, all significantly higher than those of the NC group [325 (240 - 410) micromol/L, 11.5 (3.6 - 19.4) mIU/L, 256 (226.4 - 285.6) pg/ml; respectively, all P < 0.05]. The GIR of the HF group was 5.25 mgxmin(-1)xkg(-1) +/- 1.2 mgxmin(-1)xkg(-1), significantly lower than that of the NC group (13.6 mgxmin(-1)xkg(-1) +/- 1.7 mgxmin(-1)xkg(-1), P < 0.01)). (2) The gene expression of Glc of the HF-B subgroup was significantly higher than that of the NC-B subgroup by 34.2% +/- 2.1%. In contrast, the expression of IRS-2, and PI3K of the HF-B subgroup was significantly lower than that of the NC-B subgroup by 28.5% +/- 1.8% and 21.3% +/- 1.6% respectively (both P < 0.01). (3) The plasma FFA concentration was asignificantly negatively correlated with GIR (r = -0.675, P < 0.05) and IRS-2 gene expression in islet alpha cells (r = -0.458, P < 0.05) in the HF-B group., Conclusion: High-fat-diet feeding plus beta cell-deleting rat model shows an impaired expression of insulin signal transduction molecules in islet alpha cells which may relate with the increased plasma FFA concentration.

Objective: To study the relationship between hepatic insulin resistance induced by high fat diet and the expression of genes involving hepatic glucose output., Methods: Normal 8-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into two groups, i.e, normal chow group (NC, n = 10) and high fat diet group (HF, n = 10). They were fed for 28 weeks. Body weight and fasting blood glucose (FBG) were measured. At the end of the experiment, the rats were sacrificed and their fasting insulin (INS) and triglycerides (TG) were measured. Hepatic insulin sensitivity was measured by tissue uptake of 3H-2-deoxyglucose and the content of hepatic glycogen was measured using the anthrone method. Gene expression was investigated by using the semi-quantitative RT-PCR method., Results: As compared with NC group, CF group rats developed visceral obesity which was accompanied by higher plasma TG. FBG in CF group increased starting from the 18th week (NC 4.77+/-63 mmol/L vs HF 5.45+/-87 mmol/L, P < 0.05). The rate of uptake of 3H-2-deoxyglucose in livers decreased by 51% in the HF group. The content of hepatic glycogen increased by 92.4% (P < 0.01). The level of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and PGC-1a mRNA increased by 41.5% and 30.8%, respectively (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: A high fat diet induced expressions of PGC-1a and PEPCK. It suggests that gluconeogenesis may play a role in the increase of hepatic glucose output and FBG.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the expression of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) gene and insulin resistance induced by high-fat diet and the effect of rosiglitazone, a thiazolidinedione drug., Methods: Sixty-three normal 8-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: short-term group, n = 33, to be fed for 8 weeks and re-divide into 3 equal subgroups: standard chow diet subgroup (NC subgroup fed with standard chow diet), high-fat diet subgroup (HF subgroup, to be fed with lard), and high-fat diet with rosiglitazone subgroup (HF + rosiglitazone subgroup); and long-term group, n = 30, to be fed for 28 weeks, and re-divided into 3 corresponding 3 subgroups: By the end of experiment, serum samples were collected to examine the blood glucose (BG), triglyceride (TG) and free fatty acid (FFA). At the end of the experiment the rats were killed and the visceral adipose tissue was taken out to be weighed, and the liver, muscle, and epididymis were isolated. Glucose infusion rate (GIR) methods and tissue uptake of (3)H-2-deoxyglucose were used to short-and long-term groups evaluate the insulin sensitivity. PEPCK gene expression was investigated to detect the expression of PEPCK mRNA by using semi-quantitative RT-PCR method., Results: In the short-term group, the serum FFA and TG of the HF + rosiglitazone subgroup were lower by 24.5% and 54.0% respectively compared with those the HF subgroup (both P < 0.01). In the long-term group, the serum TG of the HF subgroup was higher by 32.4% in comparison with that of the NC subgroup (P < 0.05), and the serum FFA and TG of the HF + rosiglitazone subgroup were lower by 49.5% and 23.0% respectively compared with those of the HF subgroup (both P < 0.0). In the short-term group the GIR of the HF subgroup was lower by 51.25% in comparison with that of the NC subgroup (P < 0.01). And the GIR of the HF + rosiglitazone subgroup was higher by 149.6% than that of the HF group (P < 0.01). In the long-term group, the rate of uptake of (3)H-2-deoxyglucose in liver, muscle and adipose tissue of the HF subgroup were lower by 42.0%, 36.7%, and 48.1% respectively than those of the HF subgroup (all P < 0.01), and the rate of uptake of 3H-2-deoxyglucose in liver, muscle and adipose tissue of the HF + rosiglitazone subgroup were higher by 39.6%, 66.3%, and 66.7% respectively than those of the HF subgroup (all P < 0.01). In the short-term group the adipose PEPCK mRNA expression of the HF subgroup was 89% +/- 13% that of the NC subgroup; and the adipose PEPCK mRNA expression of the HF + rosiglitazone subgroup was 154% +/- 28% that of the NC subgroup, and was higher by 65.4% than that the HF subgroup (P < 0.05). In the long-term group, the adipose PEPCK mRNA expression of the HF + rosiglitazone subgroup was 144% +/- 17% that of the NC subgroup (P < 0.05), and was higher by 43.3% than that of the HF subgroup (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Thiazolidinedione drug increases the re-esterification of fatty acids and reduces circulating FFA, and induces the expression of adipose PEPCK which is accompanied by reduction of FFA, thus improving insulin resistance.

Objective: To observe the effect of high-fat diet and rosiglitazone intervention on the function of pancreatic alpha cell of SD rats., Methods: 36 normal male SD rats, 8-week old, were randomly divided into 3 groups i.e., a normal chow group (CC, n = 12), an isocaloric high-fat diet group (CF, n = 12), and a rosiglitazone-treated group (Ro, n = 12, rosiglitazone 3 mg.kg(-1).d(-1) and isocaloric high fat diet). Triglyceride (TG) was measured every 4 weeks after feeding for 6 weeks. After 28 weeks, the secretion of insulin and glucagon (Gg) was assessed with intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) at 0, 3, 5, and 10 minutes. (3)H-2-deoxyglucose ((3)H-2-DG) uptake by tissues was measured to evaluate the insulin sensitivity., Results: The ratio of intra-abdominal fat mass and body weight was higher in the rats of CF and Ro group than that in the rats of CC group. At the first 10 min of IVGTT, the Gg level was higher in the CF group than that in CC group [(119.3 +/- 12.4, 82.3 +/- 6.4, 72.2 +/- 5.8, 68.2 +/- 9.1) ng/L vs (96.8 +/- 9.1, 67.6 +/- 5.9, 57.9 +/- 5.3, 55.3 +/- 6.9) ng/L, P < 0.05] and Ro group [(78.4 +/- 6.0, 59.4 +/- 4.0, 49.9 +/- 6.2, 40.9 +/- 6.0) ng/L, P < 0.01], the level was even lower in the latter group than in CC group (P < 0.01). There was no difference of insulin level among the 3 groups. By using quantitative image analysis, the integrated A (area x A) of alpha cells was significantly higher in the CF group and Ro group as compared with that in the CC group (1661 +/- 130 and 1532 +/- 132 vs 1188 +/- 104, P < 0.05). In contrast, there was no difference among the 3 groups in the integrated A of beta cells., Conclusions: High-fat feeding induces insulin resistance in rats, which is associated with pancreatic alpha cell proliferation and abnormal Gg secretion.

Objective: To observe the effects of rosiglitazone and metformin in rats on insulin resistance induced by high-fat diet., Methods: Normal 8-week old male SD rats were divided into four groups. They were normal chow group (NC, n = 11), high-fat diet (HF, n = 11), metformin-treated (HF + Met, n = 11) and rosiglitazone-treated group (HF + Ros, n = 11). Rosiglitazone 3 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) and metformin 300 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) were given orally to HF + Ros and HF + Met group, respectively. After feeding for 8 weeks, serum insulin, adiponectin, glucose (BG), triglyceride (TG) and free fatty acid (FFA) were measured in all the rats. Insulin sensitivity was measured with glucose infusion rate (GIR) and determined by using euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp method., Results: High-fat diet induced obesity in SD rats after feeding for 8 weeks. High-fat diet decreased adiponectin level by 43.7% (P < 0.01) and GIR by 51.3% (P < 0.01) as compared with the NC group. Metformin decreased body weight by 8.4% (P < 0.01) and TG level by 40.5% (P < 0.01). Metformin significantly increased GIR by 58.9% (P < 0.01) when compared with the HF group. Rosiglitazone caused an apparent reduction of FFA (-25.3%, P < 0.05) and TG level (-54.0%, P < 0.01). At the same time, rosiglitazone increased adiponectin by 60% (P < 0.01), and improved insulin sensitivity by 149.6% (P < 0.01) as compared with the HF group., Conclusions: (1) High-fat diet induces insulin resistance in SD rats; this was associated with an increase in visceral fat and a decrease in the level of adiponectin; (2) Metformin treatment improved insulin sensitivity accompanied by a decrease in body weight and TG level; (3) Rosiglitazone treatment ameliorates IR in a greater extent and is accompanied by a reduction of FFA, TG and an increase of adiponectin levels.