Effect of Baicalein on GLUT4 Translocation in Adipocytes of Diet-Induced Obese Mice

Abstract

Background/Aims: Although baicalein has been shown to increase insulin sensitivity in liver of mice, there is no literature available about the effect of baicalein on glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) translocation from intracellular membrane pools to plasma membranes in adipocytes of diet-induced obese mice. Methods: In the present study, the obese model was induced in mice fed a high fat diet (20% carbohydrates, 21% protein and 59% fat) for 16 weeks. The diet-induced obese mice were given 20mg/kg baicalein intraperitoneally (i.p.) once a day for 21 days. The plasma insulin was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Fasting blood glucose and insulin resistance indexes were measured by glucose tolerance test (GTT). The expression levels of PGC-1α, UCP1, GLUT4, PPARγ, pP38MAPK, pERK and pAKT in adipocytes were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. Results: The present findings showed that administration of baicalein decreased pP38MAPK, pERK and PPARγ levels, but enhanced pAKT, PGC-1α and UCP1 contents as well as GLUT4 expression in adipocytes, and reversed high fat diet-induced glucose intolerance, hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in diet-induced obese mice. Moreover, baicalein treatment increased GLUT4 concentration in plasma membranes of adipocytes, i.e. baicalein may prevent insulin resistance through the GLUT4 translocation from intracellular membrane compartments to plasma membranes in adipocytes. Conclusion: These results suggest that baicalein is a powerful and promising agent for treatment of obesity and insulin resistance via Akt/GLUT4 pathway.

Establishment of long-term high-fat diet and low dose streptozotocin-induced experimental type-2 diabetes mellitus model of insulin resistance and evaluation of seed extracts of Syzygium cumini

“…The same was not so with pioglitazone and SCE. This is in contrast to other studies which demonstrated a down-regulation of GLUT-4 expression in adipose tissue in diabetic animals (9,24,25).…”

Effect of Dietary Silk Peptide on Obesity, Hyperglycemia, and Skeletal Muscle Regeneration in High-Fat Diet-Fed Mice

“…The most important factor in the maintenance of blood glucose is glucose transport, which is principally performed by GLUT4 expressed in skeletal muscle after a meal [60]. The present data also suggest that SP enhances muscle energy expenditure by upregulating transcription factors involved in mitochondrial biogenesis: PGC-1α NRF1 and UCP3, which themselves upregulate GLUT4 expression [61]. Recent research reported that muscle mitochondrial-related genes, including NRF1, PGC1α, and UCP3, regulate insulin resistance during obesity [62,63].…”

Metabolic Impact of Flavonoids Consumption in Obesity: From Central to Peripheral

“…Similar effects were observed with baicalein that administered to HFD-fed mice decreased pP38MAPK, pERK and PPARγ levels and increased pAKT, PGC1α and UCP1 as well as the presence of GLUT4 in cell membranes of the eWAT. Globally, baicalein reversed the glucose intolerance and insulin resistance produced by HFD [ 370 ].…”