The influence of electroacupuncture on the expression of glucose transporter 4 and protein kinase Bβ in the skeletal muscle cells of insulin-resistant rats

Abstract

Objective To explore the effects of electroacupuncture on the expression of glucose transporter 4 （GLUT4） and protein kinase Bβ （Akt2） in the skeletal muscles of insulin-resistant （IR） rats. Methods Twentyfour male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal control group, a model group and an electroacupuncture （EA） group. The rats of the model group and the EA group were fed with high fat diets to establish a model of insulin resistance. The rats in the EA group were then treated with electroacupuncture for 2 weeks, while those in the model group were not. Blood samples were collected to evaluate fasting insulin （FINS） and fasting blood glucose （FBG） to calculate the insulin sensitivity index （ISI）. GLUT4 and Akt2 mRNA in the skeletal muscles were determined with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions （RT-PCRs） after 2 weeks of EA treatment. Results Compared with the control group, the FINS in the model group increased significantly, and ISI decreased significantly. Compared with the model group, the FINS in the EA group decreased significantly and ISI increased significantly. The expression of GLUT4 and Akt2 mRNA in the model group was significantly lower than in the control group or the EA group. Conclusion Electroacupuncture might improve the condition of IR rats, probably by enhancing the transposition of GLUT4 in the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase signaling pathway. Key words: Electroacupuncture; Insulin resistance; Insulin signal transduction pathway; Glucose transporter 4; Protein kinase Bβ