Effects of high-fat diet intake on glucose uptake in central and peripheral tissues of non-obese rats

We previously demonstrated that plasma glucose concentration was higher whi le plasma insulin concentration was lower in rats fed a high-fat diet. In t he present study, we examined the effects of high-fat diet on glucose uptak e in central and peripheral tissues in non-obese rats. Forty male Sprague-D awley rats were fed high- or low-fat diets for 4 wk. Body weight and body f at accumulation were not different between the two diet groups after 4 wk. Glucose uptake in the skeletal muscles and adipose tissues, estimated by th e 2-deoxy-D-glucose method, was lower in the rats fed the high-fat diet tha n that in the rats fed the low-fat diet, whereas uptake in the liver and pa ncreas did not differ between the two groups. Glucose uptake in the hypotha lamus and cortex was higher in the high-fat diet group as compared with tha t in the low-fat diet group. These results suggest that increased plasma gl ucose levels in rats fed the high-fat diet were caused by a decrease in glu cose uptake in the skeletal muscles and adipose tissues. Reduced plasma ins ulin level in the high fat diet group with no difference in glucose uptake in the pancreas may be due to increased sympathetic activity in the pancrea s resulting from the increased glucose uptake in the brain regions involved in autonomic functions.