High-fat diet-induced muscle insulin resistance: relationship to visceral fat mass

It has been variously hypothesized that the insulin resistance induced in rodents by a high-fat diet is due to increased visceral fat accumulation, to an increase in muscle triglyceride (TG) content, or to an effect of diet composition. In this study we used a number of interventions: fish oil, leptin, caloric restriction, and shorter duration of fat feeding, to try to disassociate an increase in visceral fat from muscle insulin resistance. Substituting fish oil (18% of calories) for corn oil in the high-fat diet partially protected against both the increase in visceral fat and muscle insulin resistance without affecting muscle TG content. Injections of leptin during the last 4 days of a 4-wk period on the high-fat diet partially reversed the increase in visceral fat and the muscle insulin resistance, while completely normalizing muscle TG. Restricting intake of the high-fat diet to 75% of ad libitum completely prevented the increase in visceral fat and muscle insulin resistance. Maximally insulin-stimulated glucose transport was negatively correlated with visceral fat mass (P < 0.001) in both the soleus and epitrochlearis muscles and with muscle TG concentration in the soleus (P < 0.05) but not in the epitrochlearis. Thus we were unable to dissociate the increase in visceral fat from muscle insulin resistance using a variety of approaches. These results support the hypothesis that an increase in visceral fat is associated with development of muscle insulin resistance.     

High-fat diet induces increased tissue expression of TNF-alpha

In several strains of genetically obese and insulin resistant rodents, adipose tissue over expresses mRNA for tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). Our purpose was to determine whether tissue expression of TNF-alpha protein is elevated in rats that are made obese and insulin resistant by administration of a high-fat diet. Young Wistar rats weighing approximately 50 g were fed for 39 days with either normal rat chow (12.4% fat) or a high-fat diet (50% fat). After 33 days, glucose tolerance was assessed and after 39 days, insulin-stimulated transport of [3H]-2-deoxyglucose was assessed in isolated strips of soleus muscle. Rats on the high-fat diet consumed slightly fewer calories but became obese, displaying significant approximately 2-fold increases in the mass of both visceral and subcutaneous fat depots. High-fat feeding also caused a moderate degree of insulin resistance. Fasting serum insulin was significantly increased, as were insulin and glucose concentrations following glucose loading. In isolated strips of soleus muscle, the high-fat diet produced a trend toward a 33% decrease in the insulin-stimulated component of glucose transport (p=0.064). Western analysis of muscle, liver and fat revealed two forms of TNF-alpha, a soluble 17 Kd form (sTNF-alpha) and a 26 Kd membrane form (mTNF-alpha). Both sTNF-alpha and mTNF-alpha were relatively abundant in fat; whereas sTNF-alpha was the predominant form present in muscle and liver. High-fat feeding caused a significant 2-fold increase in muscle sTNF-alpha, along with a trend toward a 54% increase in visceral fat sTNF-alpha (p=0.055). TNF-alpha was undetectable in serum. We conclude that muscle over expression of TNF-alpha occurs during the development of diet-induced obesity and may, in part cause insulin resistance by an autocrine mechanism.     

Myricetin, a naturally occurring flavonol, ameliorates insulin resistance induced by a high-fructose diet in rats

The present study was conducted to explore the effects of myricetin on insulin resistance in rats fed for 6 weeks with a diet containing 60% fructose. Repeated intravenous (i.v.) injection of myricetin (1 mg/kg per injection, 3 times daily) for 14 days was found to significantly decrease the high glucose and triglyceride levels in plasma of fructose chow-fed rats. Also, the higher degree of insulin resistance in fructose chow-fed rats as measured by homeostasis model assessment of basal insulin resistance was significantly decreased by myricetin treatment. Myricetin increased the whole-body insulin sensitivity in fructose chow-fed rats, as evidenced by the marked elevation of composite whole-body insulin sensitivity index during the oral glucose tolerance test. Myricetin was found to reverse the defect in expression of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and the p85 regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) in soleus muscle of fructose chow-fed rats under the basal state, despite the protein expression of insulin receptor (IR). Increased basal phosphorylation of IR and IRS-1 as well as Akt was observed in parallel. The reduced level of insulin action on phosphorylation of IR, IRS-1 and Akt in soleus muscle of fructose chow-fed rats was reversed by myricetin treatment. Furthermore, myricetin treatment improved the defective insulin action on the translocation of glucose transporter subtype 4 (GLUT 4) in insulin-resistant soleus muscle. These findings indicate that myricetin improves insulin sensitivity through the enhancement of insulin action on IRS-1-associated PI 3-kinase and GLUT 4 activity in soleus muscles of animals exhibiting insulin resistance.     

Effect of leptin on insulin resistance of muscle--direct or indirect?

We examined the effect of leptin on the insulin resistance in skeletal muscles by measuring glucose transport. Male Wistar rats were fed rat chow or high-fat diets for 30 days. Before sacrifice, rats fed high-fat diet were subcutaneously injected with leptin (1 mg/kg b.w.) for 3 days. The glucose transport in epitrochlearis and soleus muscles did not differ in the experimental groups under basal conditions, however these values decreased significantly in the rats fed high-fat diet under insulin stimulation (p<0.01). Leptin treatment recovered the decreased glucose transport in epitrochlearis (p<0.05) and soleus muscles (p=0.08). Triglyceride concentrations in soleus muscles were increased significantly in the rats fed high-fat diet as compared to rats fed chow diet (p<0.01), and were decreased significantly by leptin treatment (p<0.01). The glucose transport was measured under basal conditions and after 60 microU/ml of insulin treatment with or without 50 ng/ml of leptin. Leptin had no direct stimulatory effect on glucose transport under both basal and insulin-stimulated conditions in vitro. These results demonstrate that leptin injection to rats fed high-fat diet recovered impaired insulin responsiveness of skeletal muscles and muscle triglyceride concentrations. However, there was no direct stimulatory effect of leptin on insulin sensitivity of skeletal muscles in vitro.     

High-fat diet feeding impairs both the expression and activity of AMPKa in rats' skeletal muscle

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of high-fat feeding on the expression and activity of AMPK in rats' skeletal muscle. METHODS: Total 40 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups and received either a rat maintenance diet (Control group) or an isocaloric rich-fat diet (HF group and MET group) for five months. Metformin was administered orally with the daily dose of 300mg in MET group during the last month of high-fat feeding. Hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp study was performed to estimate whole-body insulin sensitivity. The ability of insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in isolated skeletal muscle was detected just before execution. mRNA levels of AMPKa1, AMPKa2, and Glut4 of rats' skeletal muscle were determined using real-time PCR. Protein contents of AMPKa, P-AMPKa, P-ACC, and Glut4 in rats' skeletal muscle were measured using Western blot. RESULTS: (1) Hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp study revealed a significantly impaired insulin action at the whole-body level after high-fat feeding (p<0.01). Also, both basal and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in isolated skeletal muscle decreased after high-fat feeding (p<0.05), indicating onset of high-fat induced insulin resistance. (2) Five months of high-fat treatment induced a significant decrease of AMPKa protein contents and AMPKa2 mRNA levels in rats' skeletal muscles (p<0.05), while it did not alter AMPKa1 mRNA levels. Protein levels of P-AMPKa also decreased after high-fat feeding (p<0.01). These data suggest that high-fat exposure might impair AMPKa expression and activities. (3) P-ACC protein contents, mRNA and protein levels of Glut4 in rats' skeletal muscles also decreased after high-fat treatment (p<0.05). (4) Compared with HF group, although no significant alternations of AMPKa expression in rats' skeletal muscles were detected, P-AMPKa levels revealed a 162% increase after metformin treatment (p<0.05), demonstrating the AMPK-activating effect of metformin. Accompanied with activation of AMPKa, rats in MET group exhibited significantly elevated P-ACC contents, Glut4 mRNA and protein levels, and an obviously enhanced insulin sensitivity at both whole-body and skeletal muscle levels (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: High-fat feeding impaired both the expression and activities of AMPKa, while activating AMPKa by metformin obviously ameliorated high-fat induced insulin resistance, thus indicating a possible role of AMPKa in lipotoxicity.     

Fucoxanthin promotes translocation and induction of glucose transporter 4 in skeletal muscles of diabetic/obese KK-A(y) mice

Fucoxanthin (Fx) isolated from Undaria pinnatifida suppresses the development of hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia of diabetic/obese KK-A(y) mice after 2 weeks of feeding 0.2% Fx-containing diet. In the soleus muscle of KK-A(y) mice that were fed Fx, glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) translocation to plasma membranes from cytosol was promoted. On the other hand, Fx increased GLUT4 expression levels in the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle, although GLUT4 translocation tended to increase. The expression levels of insulin receptor (IR) mRNA and phosphorylation of Akt, which are in upstream of the insulin signaling pathway regulating GLUT4 translocation, were also enhanced in the soleus and EDL muscles of the mice fed Fx. Furthermore, Fx induced peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), which has been reported to increase GLUT4 expression, in both soleus and EDL muscles. These results suggest that in diabetic/obese KK-A(y) mice, Fx improves hyperglycemia by activating the insulin signaling pathway, including GLUT4 translocation, and inducing GLUT4 expression in the soleus and EDL muscles, respectively, of diabetic/obese KK-A(y) mice.     

高脂饮食和地塞米松联合诱导胰岛素抵抗大鼠模型

目的用高脂饲料＋地塞米松（dexamethasone,DEX）隔日腹腔注射建立实验性胰岛素抵抗大鼠模型,研究该模型糖代谢、脂代谢和激素水平等方面的变化。方法采用Wistar雄性大鼠,分为正常对照组、高脂组、DEX组（1mg/kg,i.p.）和高脂＋DEX组（1mg/kg,i.p.）,连续观察8周,每周测定大鼠空腹血糖,分别于造模第2周和第8周测糖耐量,8周后处死大鼠,测定胸腺、脾脏、肝脏等脏器重量。结果高脂饲料能加重腹腔注射DEX造成的空腹血糖升高,造模第8周空腹血糖（7.7±0.7）较空白组（6.5±0.6）显著升高。使模型动物糖耐量明显异常,肝糖原、肌糖原含量显著增加,血浆胰岛素及游离脂肪酸水平显著升高,各脏器指数明显增加。结论高脂＋DEX隔日腹腔注射能成功诱导胰岛素抵抗大鼠模型,这种造模方法较单纯注射DEX或单纯高脂饲养成模率高,造模周期短。     

A high-fructose diet impairs Akt and PKCzeta phosphorylation and GLUT4 translocation in rat skeletal muscle.

The molecular mechanism of insulin resistance induced by high-fructose feeding is not fully understood. The present study investigated the role of downstream signaling molecules of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) in the insulin-stimulated skeletal muscle of high-fructose-fed rats. Rats were divided into chow-fed and fructose-fed groups. The results of the euglycemic clamp study (insulin infusion rates: 6 mU/kg BW/min) showed a significant decrease in the glucose infusion rate (GIR) and the metabolic clearance rate of glucose (MCR) in fructose-fed rats compared with chow-fed rats. In skeletal muscle removed immediately after the clamp procedure, high-fructose feeding did not alter protein levels of protein kinase B (PKB/Akt), protein kinase C zeta (PKCzeta), or glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4). However, insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of Akt and PKCzeta and GLUT4 translocation to the plasma membrane were reduced. Our findings suggest that insulin resistance in fructose-fed rats is associated with impaired Akt and PKCzeta activation and GLUT4 translocation in skeletal muscle.     

Exercise reverses high-fat diet-induced impairments on compartmentalization and activation of components of the insulin-signaling cascade in skeletal muscle

The aims of this investigation were 1) to determine whether endurance exercise training could reverse impairments in insulin-stimulated compartmentalization and/or activation of aPKCzeta/lambda and Akt2 in skeletal muscle from high-fat-fed rodents and 2) to assess whether the PPARgamma agonist rosiglitazone could reverse impairments in skeletal muscle insulin signaling typically observed after high-fat feeding. Sprague-Dawley rats were placed on chow (NORCON, n = 16) or high-fat (n = 64) diets for 4 wk. During a subsequent 4-wk experimental period, high-fat-fed rats were allocated (n = 16/group) to either sedentary control (HFC), exercise training (HFX), rosiglitazone treatment (HFRSG), or a combination of both exercise training and rosiglitazone (HFRX). Following the 4-wk experimental period, animals underwent hindlimb perfusions. Insulin-stimulated plasma membrane-associated aPKCzeta and -lambda protein concentration, aPKCzeta/lambda activity, GLUT4 protein concentration, cytosolic Akt2, and aPKCzeta/lambda activities were reduced (P < 0.05) in HFC compared with NORCON. Cytosolic Akt2, aPKCzeta, and aPKClambda protein concentrations were not affected in HFC compared with NORCON. Exercise training reversed the deleterious effects of the high-fat diet such that insulin-stimulated compartmentalization and activation of components of the insulin-signaling cascade in HFX were normalized to NORCON. High-fat diet-induced impairments to skeletal muscle glucose metabolism were not reversed by rosiglitazone administration, nor did rosiglitazone augment the effect of exercise. Our findings indicate that chronic exercise training, but not rosiglitazone, reverses high-fat diet induced impairments in compartmentalization and activation of components of the insulin-signaling cascade in skeletal muscle.     

Variation in Gene Expression of Inflammatory Cytokines in Leukocyte-Derived Cells of High-Fat-Diet-Induced Insulin-Resistant Rats

A high-fat diet is thought to enhance inflammation in various tissues by increasing insulin resistance. In this study, we determined the mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines in leukocyte-derived cells in the blood of rats with high-fat-diet-induced insulin resistance. Feeding rats a high-fat diet for 77 d induced moderate insulin resistance, which was determined by increased plasma glucose and insulin concentrations, following an oral glucose tolerance test. The interleukin (IL)-1β mRNA level was higher in the insulin-resistant rats than in control rats at the fasting stage, whereas the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α mRNA level was greatly elevated at 180 min after glucose administration in the insulin-resistant rats. The results suggest that feeding rats a high-fat diet enhances the expression of fasting IL-1β and postprandial TNF-α genes in leukocyte-derived cells.     

Variation in gene expression of inflammatory cytokines in leukocyte-derived cells of high-fat-diet-induced insulin-resistant rats

A high-fat diet is thought to enhance inflammation in various tissues by increasing insulin resistance. In this study, we determined the mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines in leukocyte-derived cells in the blood of rats with high-fat-diet-induced insulin resistance. Feeding rats a high-fat diet for 77 d induced moderate insulin resistance, which was determined by increased plasma glucose and insulin concentrations, following an oral glucose tolerance test. The interleukin (IL)-1beta mRNA level was higher in the insulin-resistant rats than in control rats at the fasting stage, whereas the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha mRNA level was greatly elevated at 180 min after glucose administration in the insulin-resistant rats. The results suggest that feeding rats a high-fat diet enhances the expression of fasting IL-1beta and postprandial TNF-alpha genes in leukocyte-derived cells.     

ATM protein kinase mediates full activation of Akt and regulates glucose transporter 4 translocation by insulin in muscle cells

Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by cerebellar ataxia and oculocutaneous telangiectasias. Patients with A-T also have high incidences of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The gene mutated in this disease, ATM (A-T, mutated), encodes a protein kinase. Previous studies have demonstrated that cytoplasmic ATM is an insulin-responsive protein and a major upstream activator of Akt following insulin treatment. To further investigate the function of ATM in insulin signal transduction, insulin resistance was induced in rats by feeding them a high-fat diet. Muscle tissue of rats with insulin resistance had both dramatically reduced ATM levels and substantially decreased Akt phosphorylation at Ser473 in comparison to that of regular chow-fed controls. The decreased ATM expression suggests that ATM is involved in the development of insulin resistance through down-regulation of Akt activity. The role of ATM in activation of Akt was further confirmed in mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) A29 (ATM+/+) and A38 (ATM-/-) cells. In addition, insulin-mediated Akt phosphorylation in mouse L6 muscle cells was greatly reduced by KU-55933, a specific inhibitor of ATM. A 2-deoxyglucose incorporation assay showed that this inhibitor also caused a significant reduction in insulin-mediated glucose uptake in L6 cells. An immunofluorescence experiment demonstrated that in L6 cells transfected with wild-type (WT) ATM, insulin caused a dramatic increase of the cell surface glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), while in cells transfected with kinase-dead (KD) ATM, translocation of GLUT4 to the cell surface in response to insulin was markedly inhibited.     

有氧运动对高糖高脂膳食大鼠腓肠肌Nrf2-SOD的影响*

目的: 探讨有氧运动预防大鼠胰岛素抵抗中Nrf2及SOD的变化。方法: 24只12月龄SD大鼠随机分为对照组(C)、高糖高脂IR组(IR)和高糖高脂IR并运动组(IRE)。IRE进行递增负荷跑台运动,运动6周。检测腓肠肌T-SOD、CAT、MDA、GSH/GSSG,ELISA法检测腓肠肌8-OHdG含量,Western blot检测腓肠肌Nrf2和GLUT4表达。结果: ①IRE组HOMA-IR明显低于IR组(P＜0.05);IRE组肌糖原明显高于IR组(P＜0.01);②IRE组T-SOD和CAT、GSH/GSSG明显高于IR组(P＜0.01);IRE组8-OHdG和MDA明显低于IR组(P＜0.01);③IRE组腓肠肌Nrf2和GLUT4明显高于IR组 (P＜0.01) 。结论: 有氧运动可激活大鼠腓肠肌Nrf2-SOD通路,提高抗氧化酶活性和糖摄取能力,预防IR发生。     

Glucose transporters and maximal transport are increased in endurance-trained rat soleus.

Voluntary wheel running induces an increase in the concentration of the regulatable glucose transporter (GLUT4) in rat plantaris muscle but not in soleus muscle (K. J. Rodnick, J. O. Holloszy, C. E. Mondon, and D. E. James. Diabetes 39: 1425-1429, 1990). Wheel running also causes hypertrophy of the soleus in rats. This study was undertaken to ascertain whether endurance training that induces enzymatic adaptations but no hypertrophy results in an increase in the concentration of GLUT4 protein in rat soleus (slow-twitch red) muscle and, if it does, to determine whether there is a concomitant increase in maximal glucose transport activity. Female rats were trained by treadmill running at 25 m/min up a 15% grade, 90 min/day, 6 days/wk for 3 wk. This training program induced increases of 52% in citrate synthase activity, 66% in hexokinase activity, and 47% in immunoreactive GLUT4 protein concentration in soleus muscles without causing hypertrophy. Glucose transport activity stimulated maximally with insulin plus contractile activity was increased to roughly the same extent (44%) as GLUT4 protein content in soleus muscle by the treadmill exercise training. In a second set of experiments, we examined whether a swim-training program increases glucose transport activity in the soleus in the presence of a maximally effective concentration of insulin. The swimming program induced a 44% increase in immunoreactive GLUT4 protein concentration. Glucose transport activity maximally stimulated with insulin was 62% greater in soleus muscle of the swimmers than in untrained controls. Training did not alter the basal rate of 2-deoxyglucose uptake.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Adipose-specific overexpression of GLUT4 reverses insulin resistance and diabetes in mice lacking GLUT4 selectively in muscle

Adipose tissue plays an important role in glucose homeostasis and affects insulin sensitivity in other tissues. In obesity and type 2 diabetes, glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) is downregulated in adipose tissue, and glucose transport is also impaired in muscle. To determine whether overexpression of GLUT4 selectively in adipose tissue could prevent insulin resistance when glucose transport is impaired in muscle, we bred muscle GLUT4 knockout (MG4KO) mice to mice overexpressing GLUT4 in adipose tissue (AG4Tg). Overexpression of GLUT4 in fat not only normalized the fasting hyperglycemia and glucose intolerance in MG4KO mice, but it reduced these parameters to below normal levels. Glucose infusion rate during a euglycemic clamp study was reduced 46% in MG4KO compared with controls and was restored to control levels in AG4Tg-MG4KO. Similarly, insulin action to suppress hepatic glucose production was impaired in MG4KO mice and was restored to control levels in AG4Tg-MG4KO. 2-deoxyglucose uptake during the clamp was increased approximately twofold in white adipose tissue but remained reduced in skeletal muscle of AG4Tg-MG4KO mice. AG4Tg and AG4Tg-MG4KO mice have a slight increase in fat mass, a twofold elevation in serum free fatty acids, an approximately 50% increase in serum leptin, and a 50% decrease in serum adiponectin. In MG4KO mice, serum resistin is increased 34% and GLUT4 overexpression in fat reverses this. Overexpression of GLUT4 in fat also reverses the enhanced clearance of an oral lipid load in MG4KO mice. Thus overexpression of GLUT4 in fat reverses whole body insulin resistance in MG4KO mice without restoring glucose transport in muscle. This effect occurs even though AG4Tg-MG4KO mice have increased fat mass and low adiponectin and is associated with normalization of elevated resistin levels.     

高脂喂养大鼠肝脏的NF-κBp65表达与胰岛素抵抗的相关性

目的探讨高脂饲料喂养大鼠肝脏NF-κBp65蛋白的表达与胰岛素抵抗的关系。方法采用高脂饲料喂养建立胰岛素抵抗大鼠模型,并用正常血糖-高血浆胰岛素钳夹技术评估。应用Western blotting方法检测大鼠肝脏中NF-κBp65蛋白的表达。结果①高脂饲料组大鼠的葡萄糖输注率明显低于基础饲料组[GIR60~120（0.76±0.28vs4.26±0.70）mg/（kg.min）,P〈0.01]。②高脂饲料组大鼠肝脏NF-κBp65蛋白的表达明显高于基础饲料组（A值118.48±1.45vs68.13±4.84,P〈0.01）。③高脂胰岛素抵抗大鼠肝脏NF-κBp65蛋白表达与GIR60-120（r=-0.993,P=0.000）和ISI（r=-0.773,P=0.009）负相关。结论高脂诱导的胰岛素抵抗大鼠肝脏NF-κB的激活可能是产生肝脏和全身胰岛素抵抗的根源。     

Effects of troglitazone and voluntary running on insulin resistance induced high fat diet in the rat.

It is well known that troglitazone and voluntary running have the capacity to improve insulin resistance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the combination effect of troglitazone and voluntary running on insulin action. Female rats aged 7 weeks were divided into high-fat diet (HF), high-fat diet + troglitazone (0.3% in diet; Tg), high-fat diet + voluntary running (for 3 wks; Tr), high-fat diet + troglitazone + voluntary running (Tg-Tr), and control (C) groups. A sequential euglycemic clamp experiment with two different insulin infusion rates of 3.0 (L-clamp) and 30.0 mU/kg BW/min (H-clamp) was performed on these rats after an overnight fast. Blood glucose concentrations were kept at fasting levels by periodic adjustment of the intravenous glucose infusion rate during the clamp experiment. Glucose infusion rates (GIRs) calculated from 60 to 90, 150 to 180 min were regarded as an index of whole body insulin action. After the clamp experiment, we determined the amount of glycogen content in the gastrocnemius muscle. Fat feeding markedly reduced GIRs in both L- and H- clamp experiments compared with C. Troglitazone treatment did not improve high-fat induced insulin resistance. In both L- and H-clamp experiments, GIRs were increased by voluntary running compared with HF, and reached the same levels as in C. GIRs of Tg-Tr were not greater than those of Tr. Glycogen content in gastrocnemius muscle showed the same trend as the results for GIRs. Therefore, the combination effect of troglitazone and voluntary running on insulin action was not found, but the effect of voluntary running was shown in fat-induced insulin resistance.     

Energy balance and diabetes. The effects of cold exposure, exercise training, and diet composition on glucose tolerance and glucose metabolism in rat peripheral tissues

The effects of cold exposure, exercise training, and diet (high fat versus high carbohydrate) on glucose tolerance and glucose metabolism in rat peripheral tissues will be briefly reviewed. Stimulation of energy expenditure by cold exposure (4 degrees C) or exercise training generally leads to decreased plasma insulin levels and to an improvement in glucose tolerance, suggesting that insulin action on peripheral tissues is increased when energy expenditure is stimulated. On the contrary, feeding high-fat diets to sedentary rats living in the warm (25 degrees C) induces hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance resulting in a marked deterioration of glucose tolerance. Nevertheless, cold exposure reverses the diabetogenic effects of high-fat feeding, demonstrating that nutrition-induced insulin resistance is amplified in sedentary animals living at temperatures close to thermoneutrality. Radioactive tracer studies of 2-deoxyglucose uptake in peripheral tissues revealed that cold exposure synergistically potentiates the effects of insulin on glucose uptake in skeletal muscles as well as in white and brown adipose tissues. However, more recent data showed that cold exposure improves glucose tolerance and stimulates glucose uptake in starved animals (ie., in the virtual absence of circulating insulin) nearly by the same order of magnitude as in fed animals. It is therefore concluded that cold exposure, and possibly also exercise, improve glucose tolerance and stimulate glucose uptake in peripheral tissues primarily by enhancing glucose oxidation via insulin-independent pathways, and secondarily by increasing the responsiveness of peripheral tissues to insulin.