Effect of masoprocol on glucose transport and lipolysis by isolated rat adipocytes

Masoprocol (nordihydroguaiaretic acid) is a lipoxygenase inhibitor isolated from the creosote bush and used by native healers to treat type 2 diabetes . It has been recently shown to decrease serum glucose, free fatty acid (FF A), and triglyceride (TG) concentrations in rodent models of type 2 diabete s. The current study was initiated to quantify the effects of masoprocol in cubation of adipocytes isolated from normal rats. The results indicate that masoprocol significantly increased glucose uptake by adipocytes in both th e absence and presence of insulin. In addition, the maximal rate of insulin -stimulated glucose transport was increased in adipocytes incubated with ma soprocol and the insulin concentration resulting in a half-maximal glucose transport rate (ED50) decreased, Finally, isoproterenol-stimulated increase s in FFA and glycerol release were significantly decreased in the presence of masoprocol. These results provide an explanation at the cellular level f or the observation that masoprocol decreases serum glucose, insulin, and FF A concentrations in rodent models of type 2 diabetes. Copyright (C) 1999 by W.B. Saunders Company.