Rosiglitazone enhances glucose tolerance by mechanisms other than reduction of fatty acid accumulation within skeletal muscle

Abstract

We hypothesized that improved glucose tolerance with rosiglitazone treatment would coincide with decreased levels of im triacylglycerol (IMTG), diacylglycerol, and ceramide. Obese Zucker rats were randomly divided into two experimental groups: control (n = 9) and rosiglitazone (n = 9), with lean. Zucker rats (n = 9) acting as a control group for obese controls. Rats received either vehicle or 3 mg/kg rosiglitazone for 6 wk. Glucose tolerance was impaired (P < 0.01) in obese compared with lean rats, but was normalized after rosiglitazone treatment. IMTG content was higher in obese compared with lean rats (70.5 ± 5.1 vs. 27.5 ± 2.0 μmol/g dry mass; P < 0.05) and increased an additional 30% (P ..