Body composition, adipocyte size, free fatty acid concentration, and glucose tolerance in children of diabetic pregnancies.

Previous studies show that children of women who are diabetic during pregnancy are more obese and have a higher prevalence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) than children of women who first developed NIDDM greater than 1 yr after the pregnancy (prediabetic mothers) and children of women who have never developed diabetes (nondiabetic mothers). To determine whether lean and obese children of glucose-intolerant pregnancies can be distinguished from similar children of glucose-tolerant pregnancies, we measured body composition, abdominal and gluteal adipocyte size, fasting free fatty acid (FFA), and fasting and stimulated glucose and insulin concentrations during an oral glucose tolerance test in prepubertal children of glucose-intolerant and prediabetic mothers. Each group ranged in adipocity from 6 to 40% body fat.

Insulin and atherogenesis: clinical trials.

The possible role of hyperinsulinism in the generation and perpetuation of atherosclerosis is discussed. Although the hypothesis is an important one that merits intensive study, it is premature to approach the question through a clinical trial. Rather, a concerted effort should be made to gain more information through basic research in laboratory animals and clinical investigations in man.

Insulin-induced translocation of intracellular glucose transporters in the isolated rat adipose cell.

Three techniques have now been used to demonstrate that insulin stimulates glucose transport in isolated rat adipose cells through the translocation of glucose transporters from a large intracellular pool to the plasma membrane. By using a specific D-glucose-inhibitable cytochalasin B-binding assay, most of the basal cell's transporters are found associated with a low-density microsomal membrane fraction. However, although Golgi marker enzyme activities are also enriched in this fraction, their distributions over all fractions do not parallel that of the transporters.

Insulin-stimulated translocation of glucose transporters in the isolated rat adipose cells: characterization of subcellular fractions.

Insulin stimulates glucose transport in rat adipose cells through the translocation of glucose transporters from an intracellular pool to the plasma membrane. A detailed characterization of the morphology, protein composition and marker enzyme content of subcellular fractions of these cells, prepared by differential ultracentrifugation, and of the distribution of glucose transporters among these fractions is now described. Glucose transporters were measured using specific D-glucose-inhibitable [3H]cytochalasin B binding.