INSULIN REGULATION OF HEPATIC GLUCOSE-TRANSPORTER PROTEIN IS IMPAIRED IN CHRONIC-PANCREATITIS

Objective The effect of chronic pancreatitis and insulin on the expression of the hepatic facilitative glucose transporter protein (GLUT-2) was determined in rats. Summary Background Data Chronic pancreatitis is associated with diabetes mellitus or impaired glucose tolerance. Suppression of hepatic glucose production (HGP) by insulin is impaired, although the mechanism is unknown. Methods Normal rats, rats with chronic pancreatitis induced 12 to 16 weeks earlier by oleic acid injection into the pancreatic ducts, and sham-operated rats were studied. Isolated, single-pass liver perfusion was performed, during which glucagon (1.2 pM) was infused, with or without insulin (0.6 or 1.2 nM). The suppression of HGP production by insulin was compared with changes in GLUT-2 in the membrane fraction of liver biopsies obtained before and after hormone perfusion.