High-fat- and lipid-induced insulin resistance in rats: the comparison of glucose metabolism, plasma resistin and adiponectin levels.

Aims: In animal models, both an acute elevation in plasma free fatty acid (FFA) via intravenous infusion of a lipid emulsion and a chronic elevation in plasma FFA via high-fat feeding have been shown to induce skeletal muscle and liver insulin resistance. However, there have been very few studies comparing the effects of high-fat- and lipid-induced insulin resistance on glucose metabolism and adipocytokines.

Methods: In the current study, we used lipid infusion and a high-fat feed in combination with the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp technique to assess the impact of acute and chronically elevated FFA levels on overall glucose metabolism and insulin action; two adipocytokines, resistin and adiponectin, were used.

Results: At baseline, plasma FFA levels were significantly increased in the high-fat diet (HF) group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). During clamp steady-state, the FFA levels were reduced by approximately 25% in the control and approximately 48% in the HF groups. In contrast, there was a significant increase in the plasma FFA level in the lipid-infused group (from 0.82 +/- 0.03 to 2.87 +/- 0.18 mmol/l). The glucose infusion rates (GIRs) in the HF and lipid groups were obviously lower than in the control group (p < 0.01). Moreover, GIR was lower in the lipid group compared with the HF group (p < 0.05). The rate of glucose disappearance (G(Rd)) was significantly lower in the lipid group compared with the control group. Hepatic glucose production in the control group was suppressed by approximately 15% compared with the HF and lipid groups where it was suppressed by only approximately 72 and approximately 91%, respectively. The resistin level of muscle tissues in the lipid group was significantly higher compared with the control and HF groups (both p < 0.05). After the insulin clamp, the circulating adiponectin level was significantly decreased in the lipid group compared with the control and HF groups (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Lipid infusion, which was more effective than a high-fat diet, can induce peripheral and hepatic insulin resistance in rats. Insulin-induced resistance might be associated with elevated resistin and decreased adiponectin.