Effect of endogenous galanin on glucose transporter 4 expression in cardiac muscle of type 2 diabetic rats

Abstract Although galanin has been shown to increase glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) expression in skeletal muscle and adipocytes of rats, there is no literature available about the effect of galanin on GLUT4 expression in cardiac muscle of type 2 diabetic rats. In this study, we investigated the relationship between intracerebroventricular administration of M35, a galanin receptor antagonist, and GLUT4 expression in cardiac muscle of type 2 diabetic rats. The rats tested were divided into four groups: rats from healthy and type 2 diabetic drug groups were injected with 2 μM M35 for three weeks, while both control groups with 2 μl vehicle control. The euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp test was conducted for an index of glucose infusion rates. The cardiac muscle was processed for determination of GLUT4 expression levels. The present study showed that the plasma insulin and retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) levels were higher in both drug groups than controls respectively. Moreover, the results showed the inhibitive effect of central M35 treatment on glucose infusion rates in the euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp test and GLUT4 expression levels in the cardiac muscle. These results demonstrate that endogenous galanin, acting through its central receptor, has an important attribute to increase GLUT4 expression, leading to enhance insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake in cardiac muscle of type 2 diabetic rats. Galanin and its fragment can play a significant role in regulation of glucose metabolic homeostasis in cardiac muscle and galanin is an important hormone relative to diabetic heart.