Effect of in vivo injection of cholera and pertussis toxin on glucose transport in rat skeletal muscle

Cholera toxin (CTX) and pertussis toxin (PTX) were examined for their ability to inhibit glucose transport in perfused skeletal muscle. Twenty-five hours after an intravenous injection of CTX, basal transport was decreased similar to 30%, and insulin- and contraction-stimulated transport was reduced at least 86 and 49%, respectively, in both the soleus and red and white gastrocnemius muscles. In contrast, PTX treatment was much less efficient. impairment of glucose transport appeared to develop 10-15 h after CTX administration, which coincided with development of hyperglycemia despite hyperinsulinimia, increased plasma free fatty acid levels, increased adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) concentrations in muscle, but no difference in plasma catecholamines. Twenty-five hours after CTX treatment, GLUT-4 protein in both soleus and red gastrocnemius muscles was decreased, whereas no change in GLUT-1 protein content was found. In contrast, GLUT-4 mRNA was unchanged, but transcripts for GLUT-1 were increased greater than or equal to 150% in all three muscles from CTX-treated rats. The findings suggest that CTX via increased cAMP impairs basal as well as insulin- and contraction-stimulated muscle glucose transport, at least in part from a decrease in intramuscular GLUT-4 protein.