GLUCOSE LOWERING EFFECT OF VISFATIN IN OBESE AND INSULIN DEPENDENT DIABETES MELLITUS

Abstract

Background: Human obesity-related diabetes and the accompanying metabolic disorders have been specifically linked to increased visceral adipose tissue mass. Visfatin (pre-B-cell colony enhancing factor, PBEF) is a novel adipokine that appears to be preferentially produced by visceral adipose tissue that has insulin-mimetic actions. This study investigated if visfatin administration decreases blood glucose in both obese and insulin dependent diabetic mice. Methods: One hundred and twenty balb/c strain albino mice were divided into 4 groups. Animals in Group I and Group II were made obese by feeding high fat/high carbohydrate diet whereas Group III and Group IV were made insulin dependent diabetic by injecting streptozotocin. Group I and Group III served as controls whereas Group II and Group IV were administered visfatin injection intravenously as a single bolus dose. Blood samples were collected to measure the blood glucose and visfatin levels. Results: Visfatin levels were found increased in obese mice, while administration of recombinant-histidine soluble (mice) visfatin significantly decreased the blood glucose level in obese and insulin dependent diabetic mice (p<0.001). Conclusion: The glucose lowering effect of visfatin in insulin resistant and insulin dependent diabetic mice is observed.