Pregnancy-induced insulin resistance in the rat: assessment by glucose clamp technique

Abstract

To quantify and characterize the insulin resistance during pregnancy in the rat, a euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp was set up. Dose-response curves for the effects of five concentrations of insulin on glucose production, glucose utilization, and glucose clearance were performed in age-matched virgin and 19-day-pregnant rats. Glucose production and glucose utilization were measured by using [3-3H]-glucose. Glucose production was totally suppressed at plasma insulin concentrations higher than 1,000 microU/ml in the two groups. Insulin concentration causing half-maximal suppression of glucose production was about 70 microU/ml in virgin rats and 250 microU/ml in pregnant rats. Maximal glucose utilization was obtained at plasma insulin concentrations of 2,000 microU/ml. In pregnant rats maximal increment in glucose utilization was significantly lower (P less than 0.01) than in virgin rats. Insulin concentrations causing half-maximal stimulation of glucose utilization were 200 microU/ml in virgin rats and 500 in pregnant rats. As blood glucose concentration in virgin and pregnant rats was clamped at, respectively, 0.97 +/- 0.03 and 0.73 +/- 0.03 mg/ml, glucose clearance rates were calculated because this parameter is minimally affected by the changes in blood glucose concentrations. A normal maximal increment in glucose clearance in response to insulin was restored in pregnant rats but the rightward shift of the dose-response curve was maintained. Plasma insulin concentrations necessary for half-maximal increment of glucose clearance in the two groups were similar to that observed when the results were expressed as glucose utilization. Thus, insulin resistance during late pregnancy in the rat is characterized by a decreased sensitivity of liver and peripheral tissues to insulin.

Defects in insulin signal transduction in liver and muscle of pregnant rats

“…It is known that pregnancy induces marked insulin resistance [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] and that it is accompanied by a reduced glucose uptake in peripheral tissues and an increase in hepatic glucose output. Our results indicate that pregnancy has no significant effect on the levels of the insulin receptor in rat liver and muscle.…”

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Insulin resistance during pregnancy has been reported both in women and in experimental animals [1][2][3][4][5][6][7], but the mechanism of this resistance remains unclear. In vivo studies have shown that pregnant rats become progressively resistant to insulin after day 16 of gestation [5].

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“…In vivo studies have shown that pregnant rats become progressively resistant to insulin after day 16 of gestation [5]. In these animals, the insulin resistance of skeletal muscle has been clearly demonstrated in vitro, while the insulin resistance in vivo in peripheral tissues and liver has been substantiated in studies using the euglycaemic-hyperinsulinaemic clamp technique [6,7].Insulin initiates its metabolic and growth-promoting effects by binding to the a subunit of its tetrameric receptor, thereby activating the kinase in the b subunit [8]. This interaction catalyses the intramolecular autophosphorylation of specific tyrosine residues of the b subunit which further enhances the tyrosine kinase activity of the receptor toward other protein substrates [8].…”

“…In vivo studies have shown that pregnant rats become progressively resistant to insulin after day 16 of gestation [5]. In these animals, the insulin resistance of skeletal muscle has been clearly demonstrated in vitro, while the insulin resistance in vivo in peripheral tissues and liver has been substantiated in studies using the euglycaemic-hyperinsulinaemic clamp technique [6,7].…”

Effect of feed intake level in late gestation on arterial blood concentrations of energy substrates, insulin and glucagon in the chronically catheterized gilt

“…Furthermore, data from preliminary experiments (Duée, Simoes Nunes and Rérat, unpublished results) and from glucose tolerance tests (George et al, 1978) suggest a decreased insulin sensitivity for the gilt in late gestation. As demonstrated in the rat (Leturque et al, 1984), insulin resistance corresponds to a major characteristic of the maternal adaptation in late gestation which could promote a diversion of glucose from peripheral tissues towards the gravid uterus.…”