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Modulation of glucose transporters in rat diaphragm by sodium tungstate
Author(s) -
Girón M.D,
Caballero J.J,
Vargas A.M,
Suárez M.D,
Guinovart J.J,
Salto R
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(03)00352-1
Subject(s) - glut4 , glucose transporter , medicine , endocrinology , glut1 , streptozotocin , stimulation , tungstate , diabetes mellitus , sodium tungstate , chemistry , insulin , organic chemistry , tungsten
Oral administration of sodium tungstate is an effective treatment for diabetes in animal models. We examined the effects of 6 weeks of oral administration of tungstate on glucose transporters (GLUT) in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rat diaphragm. Diabetes decreased GLUT4 expression while tungstate treatment normalized not only GLUT4 protein but also GLUT4 mRNA in the diabetic rats. Furthermore, treatment increased GLUT4 protein in plasma and internal membranes, suggesting a stimulation of its translocation to the plasma membrane. Tungstate had no effect on healthy animals. There were no differences in the total amount of GLUT1 transporter in any group. We conclude that the normoglycemic effect of tungstate may be partly due to a normalization of the levels and subcellular localization of GLUT4, which should result in an increase in muscle glucose uptake.