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Chronic hypoxia decreases fasting glucose and improves glucose tolerance in obese rats
Author(s) -
Villafuerte Francisco Carlos,
Macarlupu Jose Luis,
Rojas Percy,
Anza Cecilia,
Gamboa Jorge Luis
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.1150.6
Subject(s) - medicine , endocrinology , hypoxia (environmental) , insulin tolerance test , carbohydrate metabolism , glucose tolerance test , obesity , insulin resistance , impaired glucose tolerance , diabetes mellitus , type 2 diabetes , insulin , insulin sensitivity , chemistry , oxygen , organic chemistry
People living at high‐altitude have lower fasting glucose levels and apparently lower incidence of type 2 diabetes. In lean mice, 4 weeks of hypoxia also decreases glucose levels and increases insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle. However, the effect of chronic hypoxia on glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity in obese and glucose intolerant rodents is unknown. We hypothesized that chronic hypoxia decreases fasting glucose level and improves glucose tolerance in obese rats. In order to test this hypothesis, Sprague‐Dawley rats were fed with normal chow diet or high‐fat diet (45% Kcal from fat) for 24 weeks in a normoxic environment. Rats were then exposed to hypobaric hypoxia(simulated altitude of 4500m)for 3 weeks. Fasting glucose (6h) and glucose tolerance test were measured before and after the hypoxic exposure. Chronic hypoxia reduces fasting glucose in both groups:37% decrease in lean rats (from 107.8±6.1 to 68.4±11.5, p<0.001) and 32.9% decrease in obese rats (from 111.8±13.9 to 75.0±13.6, p<0.001). Glucose tolerance curve shifts downward in both groups (lean and obese) after chronic hypoxia (figure). This result suggests that chronic hypoxia not only increases glucose utilization in lean but also in obese rodents. Further studies are required to evaluate the effects of chronic hypoxia on insulin sensitivity in obesity. Supported by a grant from FINCyT (No 046‐FINCyT‐PITEI‐ 2010).