Effects of adenosine deaminase on the sensitivity of glucose transport, glycolysis and glycogen synthesis to insulin in muscles of the rat

1. Soleus, extensor digitorum longus (EDL) or hemi-diaphragm muscles of the rat were incubated in the presence of insulin and rates of the processes of glycolysis and glycogen synthesis were measured. 2. The concentrations of insulin required to cause half-maximal stimulation of glycolysis in both soleus and EDL preparations were significantly decreased by the presence of adenosine deaminase in the medium. 3. Adenosine deaminase increased the sensitivity of the process of hexose transport to insulin (in an identical manner to the change in sensitivity of glycolysis) in the EDL preparation. 4. None of the adenosine mediated effects on insulin-stimulated rates of glycolysis were observed in the hemi-diaphragm preparation or on the rates of glycogen synthesis in any of the three muscle preparations. 5. Therefore, changes in the adenosine system in skeletal muscle influence insulin sensitivity regardless of fibre type composition of the muscle.     

Sensitivity to insulin of glycolysis and glycogen synthesis of isolated soleus-muscle strips from sedentary, exercised and exercise-trained rats.

The half-maximal stimulation of the rates of glycolysis and glycogen synthesis in soleus-muscle strips from sedentary animals occurred at a concentration of insulin of about 100 microunits/ml. In soleus-muscle strips from exercise-trained rats (5 weeks of treadmill training), half-maximal stimulation of the rate of glycolysis occurred at about 10 microunits of insulin/ml, whereas that for glycogen synthesis occurred between 10 and 100 microunits of insulin/ml. The sensitivity of glycolysis to insulin after exercise training is similar to that of adipose tissue from sedentary animals. This finding suggests that, in sedentary animals, the effects of normal changes in insulin concentration may affect muscle primarily indirectly via the anti-lipolytic effect on adipose tissue, whereas after training insulin may effect the rate of glycolysis in muscle directly. A single period of exercise did not change the sensitivity of glycolysis in soleus muscle to insulin, nor probably that of glycogen synthesis. It is suggested that the improvement in insulin sensitivity of glycolysis in muscle caused by exercise-training could account, in part, for the well-established improvement in glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity observed in man and rats after exercise-training.     

Effects of hyperthyroidism on the sensitivity of glycolysis and glycogen synthesis to insulin in the soleus muscle of the rat.

1. The effects of hyperthyroidism on the sensitivity and responsiveness of glycolysis and glycogen synthesis to insulin were investigated in the isolated incubated soleus muscle of the rat. 2. Hyperthyroidism, which was induced by administration of tri-iodothyronine (T3) to rats for 2, 5 or 10 days, increased fasting plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin and free fatty acids. 3. Administration of T3 for 2 or 5 days increased the rates of glycolysis at all insulin concentrations studied: this was due to increased rates of both glucose phosphorylation and glycogen breakdown, but there was no effect of T3 on the sensitivity of glycolysis to insulin. However, administration of T3 for 10 days increased the sensitivity of the rate of glycolysis to insulin. 4. The concentration of adenosine in the gastrocnemius muscles of the rats was not different from controls after 5 days, but it was markedly decreased after 10 days of T3 administration. If these changes are indicative of changes in the soleus muscle, the increased sensitivity of glycolysis to insulin found after 10 days' T3 administration could be due to the decrease in the concentration of adenosine. 5. Administration of T3 decreased the sensitivity of glycogen synthesis to insulin and the glycogen content of the soleus muscles. This may explain the decreased rates of non-oxidative glucose disposal found in spontaneous and experimental hyperthyroidism in man. 6. The rates of glucose oxidation did not change after 2 days, but they were increased after 5 and 10 days of T3 administration.     

Inhibitors of protein synthesis, puromycin and emetine, inhibit prostaglandin E2 release by skeletal muscle

Addition of 1 microM puromycin or 1 microM emetine to rat soleus muscle in vitro decreases muscle prostaglandin E2 release by 51-77%. This inhibition appears to be caused by decreased availability of endogenous arachidonic acid for prostaglandin E2 synthesis, because neither puromycin nor emetine inhibits muscle prostaglandin E2 production from arachidonic acid added into the incubation medium.     

Effects of prostaglandin E2, indomethacin and adenosine deaminase on basal and insulin-stimulated glucose metabolism in human adipocytes

The effects of prostaglandin E2 were studied on glucose metabolism (3-O-methylglucose transport, CO2 production and lipogenesis) in human adipocytes. Initially, the effects of endogenously produced adenosine and prostaglandins were indirectly demonstrated by using adenosine deaminase and indomethacin in the incubations. From these studies it was found that adenosine deaminase (5 micrograms/ml) had a pronounced effect on adipocyte glucose metabolism in vitro. In the basal (nonhormonal-stimulated) state, glucose transport, CO2 production and lipogenesis were inhibited by about 30% (P less than 0.05). Furthermore, adenosine deaminase significantly inhibited the isoproterenol- and insulin-stimulated CO2 production and lipogenesis (P less than 0.01). Indomethacin (50 microM) had a consistently inhibitory effect on the insulin-stimulated CO2 production (P less than 0.05), whereas indomethacin had no significant effects on basal or isoproterenol-stimulated glucose metabolism. In contrast to the relatively minor effect of endogenous prostaglandins, the addition of exogenous prostaglandin E2 significantly stimulated the glucose transport, glucose oxidation and lipogenesis in human adipocytes, especially in the presence of adenosine deaminase. Half-maximal stimulation was obtained at prostaglandin E2 concentrations of 2.2, 0.8 and 0.8 nM, respectively. The effect of prostaglandin E2 was specific, since the structurally related prostaglandin, prostaglandin F2 alpha, had practically no effect on glucose metabolism. The maximal effect of prostaglandin E2 (1 microM) on glucose metabolism was 30-35% of the maximal insulin (1 nM) effect. When insulin and prostaglandin E2 were added together, the effect of prostaglandin E2 on glucose metabolism was additive at all insulin concentrations tested.     

Prostaglandin E2 and I2 production in isolated dog renal arteries in the absence or presence of vascular endothelial cells

The spontaneous prostaglandin I2 production was significantly reduced by the removal of endothelial cells from the isolated dog renal arteries compared with relative slight reduction of prostaglandin E2 production. The stimulation of prostaglandin I2 production induced with angiotensin II was also markedly reduced under the absence of endothelial cells, while its potentiation of prostaglandin E2 production was not inhibited. The results suggest that the vascular endothelial cells are the major sources of prostaglandin I2 in the dog renal arteries, while prostaglandin E2 is mainly produced in other cell types, perhaps vascular smooth muscle cells.     

Effect of prostaglandin E2 on enzyme activity during parenteral feeding

It has been shown that prostaglandin E2 increases the activity of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase in the liver and striated muscle in parenteral feeding and increases the activity of aldolase in the liver but reduces it in the striated muscle. This demonstrates the enzymatic component in the mechanism of action of prostaglandin E2 on organ-tissue metabolism in parenteral feeding.     

Regulation of insulin receptor activity of human erythrocyte membrane by prostaglandin E1

Incubation of human erythrocyte membrane with low concentration of prostaglandin E1 or prostacyclin increased the binding of 125I-labeled insulin to the membrane. The binding of the radioiodinated hormone was maximally stimulated at 3 nM prostaglandin E1 and the use of higher concentrations (above 8 nM) of the autacoid tended to reverse its own effect at lower concentrations. While prostaglandins A1, A2, B1, B2, D2, F1 alpha, F2 alpha or 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha had no effect on the binding of insulin to the erythrocyte membrane, prostaglandin E2 at similar concentrations decreased the binding of the hormone. The effect of prostaglandin E1 on the increased binding of the insulin was found to be reversible and depended on the occupancy of the autacoid molecules on the membrane and showed positive cooperativity. Scatchard analysis of the binding of 125I-labeled insulin to the erythrocyte ghosts indicated that in the presence of the autacoid, the binding capacity of the insulin receptor increased 2-fold (from 207 to 424 fmol/mg protein) without any change in the ghosts affinity for the ligand (Kd 2.4 X 10(-9) versus 2.49 X 10(-9) M). As a consequence of increased binding of insulin to the erythrocyte membrane in the presence of prostaglandin E1 (3.0 nM), the optimal concentration of the peptide hormone for the maximal reduction of the membrane microviscosity decreased from approx. 1.6 to approx. 0.4 nM. Addition of prostaglandin E1 alone at the above concentration to the assay mixture had no effect on the membrane microviscosity.     

Effect upon the human myometrium during early pregnancy of prostaglandin E2 and its analogue 16-phenoxy-omega-17,18,19,20-tetranor-PGE2 methyl sulfonylamide

A quantitative determination of the pharmacological effect of the prostaglandin analogue 16-phenoxy-omega-17,18,19,20-tetranor-PGE2 methyl sulfonylamide (16-phenoxy-PGE2) and the natural prostaglandin E2 has been made in vivo upon the human myometrium during early pregnancy. The method for the investigation, hysterometry, is based upon the concept that mechanical distension of smooth muscle induces contraction. The contractile response was recorded under basic conditions and during intravenous infusion of the active agent. It was found that the analogue had a 'potency' similar to or slightly more pronounced than the natural prostaglandin E2 when the comparison was made on a microgram basis.     

Glucose dependent stimulation by prostaglandin D2 of glucagon and insulin in perfused rat pancreas

Effects of prostaglandin D2 on pancreatic islet function in perfused rat pancreas were examined in comparison with those of prostaglandin E2, which has hitherto been suggested to be a modifier of pancreatic hormone release. In the presence of 2.8 mM glucose, only glucagon release was strongly stimulated by 14 microM of prostaglandin D2, while release of both glucagon and insulin was augmented by 14 microM of prostaglandin E2. When the glucose concentration was elevated to 11.2 mM, insulin release was accelerated by 14 microM of prostaglandin D2 but there was no effect upon glucagon release. Again, release of both glucagon and insulin was augmented by 14 microM of prostaglandin E2 in the presence of 11.2 mM of glucose. The regulation of glucagon and insulin release through prostaglandin D2 is apparently adapted to glycemic changes, and may be a physiological modulator of pancreatic islet function.     

Increased insulin sensitivity in soleus muscle from cold-exposed rats: reversal by an adenosine-receptor agonist

The effect of 0.5, 2, 7 and 14 days cold exposure at 4 degrees C on insulin sensitivity was investigated in the stripped soleus muscle preparation incubated in vitro. Cold-exposure for 2 or 7 days increased the sensitivity of glycolysis, but did not affect the sensitivity of glycogen synthesis to insulin. Cold-exposure for 0.5 or 14 days had no effect on the sensitivity of either process to insulin. The increased sensitivity to insulin after exposure of animals to the cold for 2 days was completely reversed by addition of the adenosine receptor agonist, 2-chloroadenosine, to the incubation medium. This suggests that cold exposure may increase insulin sensitivity in the muscle, either by a decrease in the concentration of adenosine in the muscle, or by a decrease in the number or affinity of the adenosine receptors.     

Isolation and biosynthesis of 20-hydroxyprostaglandins E1 and E2 in ram seminal fluid

Ram semen was found to contain 20-hydroxyprostaglandin E1 and 20-hydroxyprostaglandin E2. The relative amounts of the two compounds were almost equal, although ram semen contained at least 10 times more prostaglandin E1 than prostaglandin E2. The accessory genital glands of the ram were analyzed for their capacity to metabolize [14C]arachidonic acid to prostaglandins. Biosynthesis of prostaglandins was only found in microsomes of the mucosa of the ampulla of vas deferens and in microsomes of the vesicular glands. Ram vesicular glands and the ampulla of vas deferens were also found to contain the two 20-hydroxylated E prostaglandins. Microsomes of ram vesicular glands and NADPH metabolized exogenous prostaglandin E2 to 20-hydroxyprostaglandin E2 albeit in low yields. Prostaglandin E2 appeared to be a better substrate than prostaglandin E1. Microsomes of human seminal vesicles and NADPH metabolized exogenous prostaglandin E2 to 19-hydroxyprostaglandin E2. The results show that 19- and 20-hydroxylation of prostaglandins occurs in human and ram seminal vesicles, respectively, and possibly also in the ampulla of vas deferens of the ram. The ram and human enzymes specifically hydroxylated the terminal and the penultimate carbon of prostaglandin E2, respectively.     

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha, prostaglandins E2, F2 alpha and thromboxane B2 production by endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts cultured from piglet aorta

After [3H]arachidonic acid labeling, cyclooxygenase products were qualitatively analysed in the media of each cultured vascular cell type by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (rp-HPLC). The prostaglandin E2, prostaglandin F2 alpha, 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha and thromboxane B2 detected in the rp-HPLC radioactive profile were then quantified by radioimmunoassay (RIA) in separate sets of experiments. In preconfluent endothelial cells prostaglandin F2 alpha and 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha were detected in equal amounts (49%), whereas after confluence 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha represented 57% of total secretion (P less than 0.05). Smooth muscle cells secreted mainly prostaglandin F2 alpha (48%) and fibroblasts prostaglandin E2 (44%). Using the bioassay method, antiaggregatory activity was detected only in endothelial cells, though a small percentage of immunoreactive 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha was encountered in smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts (13 and 10%, respectively). Radioimmunological analysis after rp-HPLC separation of the medium of endothelial cells showed that the anti-6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha antibody recognized, among other substances, an unidentified compound. Its retention time was similar to that of prostaglandin F2 alpha. This unidentified compound was not detected in the media from smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts.     

Stimulation of prostaglandin E1 binding to human blood platelet membrane by insulin and the activation of adenylate cyclase

Incubation of human platelet-rich plasma with physiological amounts of insulin resulted in the increase of the binding of prostaglandin E1 by more than 2-fold when compared to the control platelets. Scatchard analysis of the binding of the prostaglandin to the hormone-treated platelets showed that the increased binding was due to the increase of receptor numbers rather than the increase of affinity of the binding sites. The membranes prepared from the insulin-treated platelets also showed similar enhanced binding of the prostaglandin. However, addition of insulin directly to the membranes isolated from the platelets which had not been previously incubated with the hormone failed to show any effect. This increased binding of the prostanoid to the membranes prepared from the insulin-treated platelets resulted in the stimulation of adenylate cyclase by more than 2-fold when compared with the control of membrane preparation by the prostaglandin alone. In contrast, treatment of platelets with the hormone which increased the prostanoid binding to these cells did not influence the cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity of either the membrane or cytosolic fraction. The increase in the cellular level of cyclic AMP by prostaglandin E1 was 2-fold greater in the hormone-treated cells than in the case of untreated platelets stimulated by the agonist alone. The incubation of platelet-rich plasma with insulin, as expected, decreased the amount of prostaglandin E1 needed to inhibit platelet aggregation by more than 50% when compared to the control platelets.     

Influence of a type 2 diabetes associated prostaglandin E synthase 2 polymorphism on blood prostaglandin E2 levels

In this study we tested whether the type 2 diabetes mellitus associated prostaglandin E synthase 2 arginine to histidine polymorphism at position 298 (R298H) influences prostaglandin E2 levels in humans. Fasting prostaglandin E2 was determined in the blood of subjects carrying different genotypes of the R298H polymorphism. Subjects were matched by sex, age, and body mass index. No differences in prostaglandin E2 levels were found with respect to genotypes when considering the whole group. Male homozygous histidine carriers showed elevated prostaglandin E2 levels compared to heterozygous carriers and homozygous arginine carriers (188.2±42.4 vs. 80.4±26.5 pg/ml, p=0.021; and vs. 92.9±15.3 pg/ml, p=0.11). These differences were not evident in female subjects. In contrast, 6-keto-prostaglandin F1alpha levels as independent marker of arachidonic acid metabolism showed ambiguous results. Nevertheless, preliminary evidence of the prostaglandin E synthase 2 R298H polymorphism possibly influencing prostaglandin E2 blood levels in a gender-specific manner was obtained.     

Activation of nuclear receptor NR5A2 increases Glut4 expression and glucose metabolism in muscle cells

NR5A2 is a nuclear receptor which regulates the expression of genes involved in cholesterol metabolism, pluripotency maintenance and cell differentiation. It has been recently shown that DLPC, a NR5A2 ligand, prevents liver steatosis and improves insulin sensitivity in mouse models of insulin resistance, an effect that has been associated with changes in glucose and fatty acids metabolism in liver. Because skeletal muscle is a major tissue in clearing glucose from blood, we studied the effect of the activation of NR5A2 on muscle metabolism by using cultures of C2C12, a mouse-derived cell line widely used as a model of skeletal muscle. Treatment of C2C12 with DLPC resulted in increased levels of expression of GLUT4 and also of several genes related to glycolysis and glycogen metabolism. These changes were accompanied by an increased glucose uptake. In addition, the activation of NR5A2 produced a reduction in the oxidation of fatty acids, an effect which disappeared in low-glucose conditions. Our results suggest that NR5A2, mostly by enhancing glucose uptake, switches muscle cells into a state of glucose preference. The increased use of glucose by muscle might constitute another mechanism by which NR5A2 improves blood glucose levels and restores insulin sensitivity.     

Plasma prostaglandin E2 level in Kawasaki disease

Plasma levels of prostaglandin E2 and prostaglandin F2 alpha were determined in 15 patients in the acute and recovery stages of Kawasaki disease, 10 patients with anaphylactoid purpura, 16 with bacterial and viral infections and 10 healthy children. Plasma levels of prostaglandin E2 were markedly increased in the acute stage of Kawasaki disease, and these levels were decreased in the recovery stage. The prostaglandin F2 alpha/prostaglandin E2 ratio in the acute stage of Kawasaki disease was markedly decreased. Plasma levels of prostaglandin E2 in patients with anaphylactoid purpura, bacterial and viral infections were within the normal range. In Kawasaki disease which is associated with systemic vasculitis with a severe inflammatory reaction, prostaglandin E2 is considered to be more selectively produced and released than prostaglandin F2 alpha, suggesting that prostaglandin E2 plays an important role in the immunological and inflammatory reaction.     

Effect of endurance and sprint exercise on the sensitivity of glucose metabolism to insulin in the epitrochlearis muscle of sedentary and trained rats

The effects of two types of acute exercise (1 h treadmill running at 20 m.min-1, or 6 x 10-s periods at 43 m.min-1, 0 degree inclination), as well as two training regimes (endurance and sprint) on the sensitivity of epitrochlearis muscle [fast twitch (FT) fibres] to insulin were measured in vitro in rats. The hormone concentration in the incubation medium producing the half maximal stimulation of lactate (la) production and glycogen synthesis was determined and used as an index of the muscle insulin sensitivity. A single period of moderate endurance as well as the sprint-type exercise increased the sensitivity of la production to insulin although the rate of la production enhanced markedly only after sprint exercise at 10 and 100 microU.ml-1 of insulin. These effects persisted for up to 2 h after the termination of exercise. Both types of exercise significantly decreased the muscle glycogen content, causing a moderate enhancement in the insulin-stimulated rates of glycogen synthesis in vitro for up to 2 h after exercise. However, a significant increase in the sensitivity of this process to insulin was found only in the muscle removed 0.25 h after the sprint effort. Training of the sprint and endurance types increased insulin-stimulated rates of glycolysis 24 h after the last period of exercise. The sensitivity of this process to insulin was also increased at this instant. Both types of training increased the basal and maximal rates of glycogen synthesis, as well as the sensitivity of this process to insulin at the 24th h following the last training session.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of prostaglandin E1, I2 and isoproterenol on the tissue cyclic AMP content in longitudinal muscle of rabbit intestine

Effects of prostaglandin E1(PGE1) and prostaglandin I2(PGI2) on the mechanical activity and tissue cyclic AMP content of the longitudinal muscle of rabbit intestine were examined, comparing that of the tissue cyclic AMP content. Isoproterenol caused a relaxation and increased tissue cyclic AMP content.