Abstract
This study examined whether Opuntia humifusa (O. humifusa), which is a member of the Cactaceae family, supplementation and acute swimming exercise affect insulin sensitivity and associations with PPAR-γ and PGC-1α protein expression in rats. Thirty-two rats were randomly divided into four groups (HS: high fat diet sedentary group, n = 8; HE: high fat diet acute exercise group, n = 8; OS: 5% O. humifusa supplemented high fat diet sedentary group, n = 8; OE: 5% O. humifusa supplemented high fat diet acute exercise group, n = 8). Rats in the HE and OE swam for 120 min. before being sacrificed. Our results indicated that serum glucose level, fasting insulin level and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in OS were significantly lower compared to those of the HS (p < 0.01, p < 0.05, p < 0.05). In addition, PPAR-γ protein expression in the OS and OE was significantly higher than that of the HS and HE, respectively (p < 0.05, p < 0.01). PGC-1α and GLUT-4 protein expressions in the OS were significantly higher compared to those of the HS (p < 0.05, p < 0.05). From these results, O. humifusa supplementation might play an important role for improving insulin sensitivity through elevation of PPAR-γ, PGC-1α, and GLUT-4 protein expression in rat skeletal muscle.
Highlights
Obesity is a serious health problem that increases the risk factors of various metabolic diseases such as type II diabetes (T2D)
Our study showed that muscle glucose transporter-4 (GLUT-4) and PGC-1α protein expressions of OE was tend to higher than that of the HE, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) protein expression of OE was significantly higher compared to that of the HE
Our study showed that muscle PPAR-γ protein expression in the OS was significantly higher than that of the HS, and GLUT-4 and PGC-1α protein expression was significantly higher in the OS than that in the HS
Summary
Obesity is a serious health problem that increases the risk factors of various metabolic diseases such as type II diabetes (T2D). Physical activity, dietary control, and drug treatment are an important part of managing the disease. Thiazolidinediones (TZDs), which are peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) agonists [6,7] that decrease insulin resistance [8], are widely used as a treatment for patients with T2D. Song et al, reported that soluble dietary fiber (psyllium) supplementation has a protective effect from the development of insulin resistance through the elevation of skeletal muscle glucose transporter-4 (GLUT-4) protein expression in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats [11]. Long-term supplementation of Korean red ginseng in high fat diet-induced obese rats improved their insulin sensitivity by enhancing muscle GLUT-4 translocation to the plasma membrane through the insulin signaling pathway [12]
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