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Skin glucose metabolism and microvascular blood flow during local insulin delivery and after an oral glucose load
Author(s) -
Iredahl Fredrik,
Högstedt Alexandra,
Henricson Joakim,
Sjöberg Folke,
Tesselaar Erik,
Farnebo Simon
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
microcirculation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.793
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1549-8719
pISSN - 1073-9688
DOI - 10.1111/micc.12325
Subject(s) - microdialysis , insulin , medicine , perfusion , endocrinology , glucose uptake , blood flow , carbohydrate metabolism , chemistry , central nervous system
Abstract Objective Insulin causes capillary recruitment in muscle and adipose tissue, but the metabolic and microvascular effects of insulin in the skin have not been studied in detail. The aim of this study was to measure glucose metabolism and microvascular blood flow in the skin during local insulin delivery and after an oral glucose load. Methods Microdialysis catheters were inserted intracutanously in human subjects. In eight subjects two microdialysis catheters were inserted, one perfused with insulin and one with control solution. First the local effects of insulin was studied, followed by a systemic provocation by an oral glucose load. Additionally, as control experiment, six subjects did not recieve local delivery of insulin or the oral glucose load. During microdialysis the local blood flow was measured by urea clearance and by laser speckle contrast imaging ( LSCI ). Results Within 15 minutes of local insulin delivery, microvascular blood flow in the skin increased (urea clearance: P =.047, LSCI : P =.002) paralleled by increases in pyruvate ( P =.01) and lactate ( P =.04), indicating an increase in glucose uptake. An oral glucose load increased urea clearance from the catheters, indicating an increase in skin perfusion, although no perfusion changes were detected with LSCI . The concentration of glucose, pyruvate and lactate increased in the skin after the oral glucose load. Conclusion Insulin has metabolic and vasodilatory effects in the skin both when given locally and after systemic delivery through an oral glucose load.