EFFECT OF AGE AND HIGH SUCROSE DIET ON 2-DEOXYGLUCOSE UPTAKE IN PERFUSED HINDLIMB

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate insulin-stimulated s keletal muscle glucose uptake in male Fischer 344 rats, age 6, 12, and 27 mo, fed either a sucrose (S: 66.6% sucrose, 17.6% protein, 6.4% fa t) or sucrose-free (SF: 66.6% starch, 17.6% protein, 6.4%fat) diet for 3 mo. Skeletal muscle glucose uptake (R(g)) in perfused hindlimbs was estimated from the uptake and subsequent phosphorylation of radiolabe led 2-deoxyglucose (2DG) in the gastrocnemius (GN), extensor digitorum longus (EDL), and soleus (SOL) muscles. Rat hindlimbs were perfused a t a rate of 10 ml.min-1 with a modified Krebs Henseleit buffer contain ing bovine red blood cells (hematocrit: 40%) and 5.85 mmole.L-1 glucos e along with 358 pmoles.L-1 followed by 3580 p moles.L-1 insulin. Ther e was no effect of diet on plasma glucose levels measured at weeks 1, 7, and 11 of the dietary period. A significant effect of age on estima ted glucose uptake in the GN was demonstrated due primarily to greater uptake in the 27-mo compared to the 6-mo-old animals. This significan t effect of age was not evident in the EDL or SOL, nor were there sign ificant effects of diet in any muscle. These data suggest that insulin -stimulated glucose uptake in perfused hindlimbs is not attenuated wit h senescence or with the feeding of a sucrose diet for 3 months.