Acute Voluntary Wheel Running Attenuates Olanzapine‐Induced Hyperglycemia in Male Mice

Abstract

BackgroundOlanzapine is a second‐generation antipsychotic often used in the treatment of schizophrenia and other “off‐label” conditions. Though effective in reducing psychoses, the use of olanzapine is associated with adverse metabolic side effects. Acutely, olanzapine increases liver glucose output and the development of insulin resistance. Chronic olanzapine treatment leads to weight gain and predisposes individuals to the development of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Exercise is an intervention which helps to maintain glucose homeostasis, and with long‐term adherence, can decrease glucose intolerance and insulin resistance. We have previously demonstrated that a single bout of exhaustive exercise mitigates olanzapine‐induced hyperglycemia. While these findings are encouraging, the clinical relevance of exhaustive exercise in individuals taking olanzapine is limited.Purpose & HypothesesThe purpose of this study was to investigate if increases in short‐term, habitual physical activity in the form of voluntary wheel running (VWR) would have a protective effect against olanzapine‐induced hyperglycemia.Methods10‐week old male C57BL/6J mice remained sedentary or were provided running wheels at the start of the dark cycle (~20:00 h), until the following morning (~8:00 h; start of light cycle). Olanzapine (5 mg/kg body weight (BW)) was administered intraperitoneally (IP) immediately following overnight VWR, or 6 hours and 24 hours post wheel‐lock. Blood glucose was measured at baseline, 30, 60, 90, and 120 mins post‐olanzapine. In parallel experiments following the same overnight VWR protocol, an insulin tolerance test (ITT) (0.5 IU/kg BW; IP) was conducted 60 mins post‐olanzapine treatment to assess olanzapine‐induced insulin resistance among groups.ResultsA single overnight session of VWR protected against acute olanzapine‐induced hyperglycemia immediately post‐wheel lock. This protective effect was still present 6 hours post‐wheel lock, and had reversed by 24 hours after the cessation of exercise. Under insulin‐stimulated conditions, the sedentary olanzapine‐treated mice had significantly higher blood glucose area‐under‐the‐curve compared to the other three groups, providing evidence that a prior bout of VWR protects against olanzapine‐induced insulin resistance. Under insulin‐stimulated conditions, serum free fatty acid concentrations were increased with olanzapine and reduced with VWR.ConclusionsOur findings demonstrate that with a single session of overnight habitual physical activity, olanzapine‐induced hyperglycemia is mitigated for at least 6 hours post‐exercise and insulin‐stimulated glucose disposal is recovered under olanzapine‐treated conditions.Support or Funding InformationThis study was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.