Abstract
The present study was undertaken to clarify the effects of insulin and glucose on the utilization of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) in the skeletal muscles of normal and diabetic rats, using the hindlimb perfusion method. The hindlimb perfusion was performed for 1hr with a perfusion medium containing 1mmol/l palmitate, glucose, and/or insulin, to calculate the NEFA clearance (F value) of hindlimb skeletal muscle. In normal rats, glucose increased the F value to a maximum of 500mg/ dl. Furthermore, 62.5U/μml insulin had an enhancing effect on the F value in the presence of glucose, while a further increase in insulin concentrations suppressed it. Insulin had no effect on the F value in the absence of glucose. In diabetic rats, the F value was decreased under all conditions, as compared with the control. The results of the present study suggest that glucose plays a role in NEFA utilization in skeletal muscle, and that this NEFA utilization is decreased in the diabetic state. It is also suggested that this decrease may be related to the NEFA supply to the liver.
