Abstract P636: Insulin Resistance in Obesity Results in Postprandial Salt and Water Loss

Abstract

Obesity and insulin resistance contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome, a growing epidemic in our country. The obese Zucker rat is an experimental model of this disease. Previously, using Sprague Dawley rats, we have shown that the normal postprandial rise in insulin acts physiologically to prevent renal salt and water wasting after meals. This study tested whether the effects of postprandial insulin would be attenuated in insulin resistant rats and result in excess salt and water loss. Chronic artery and vein catheters were implanted in male lean and obese Zucker rats for infusion and blood sampling. Rats were housed in metabolic cages and their catheters were connected to dual-channel Instech swivels for access. Over a 24-hr period of ad libitum eating, blood glucose was not different between obese and lean rats (127±7 vs. 120±3 mg/dl) but obese rats were hyperinsulinemic (14.86 vs. 0.98 ng/ml). Obese rats had significantly greater urine volume than lean controls (22.5±1.2 vs. 14.7±0.9 ml) despite similar water intakes. Obese rats tended to excrete more Na+ than lean controls (3.46±0.15 vs. 2.97±0.35 mEq) with equal amounts of Na+ intake. To evaluate the response to a single meal while controlling for blood glucose, fasted rats were administered a glucose bolus (as 50% dextrose) that yielded peak levels of blood glucose that were not different in the two groups (589±11 vs. 596 ±3 mg/dl at t=5 min.). Plasma insulin increased from fasting in both groups to 26.35 and 9.34 ng/ml in obese and lean controls, respectively. Over the 4-hour period following the glucose administration, obese rats had significantly greater urine volume (8.6±1.3 vs. 2.2 ±0.6 ml) and Na+ excretion (0.53±0.11 vs. 0.25±0.09 mEq) than lean controls. This suggests that insulin resistance of obesity may impair the ability of postprandial insulin to participate in maintenance of Na+ and water homeostasis, but the potential role of insulin resistance specifically within the kidney requires further study.