Effects of Puerarin on the Expression of Glycogen Synthase Kinase- 3 in Skeletal Muscle of Rats with Insulin Resistance

Objective To observe the effects of puerarin on the expression of glycogen synthase kinase- 3 (GSK- 3) in the skeletal muscle of rats with insulin resistance induced by high fat and sucrose diets. Methods 30 Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal group, model group and puerarin group, 10 rats in each group. The model group and puerarin group were fed with the high fat and sucrose diets for 4 weeks. Then puerarin group was treated with puerarin by abdominal injection (100 mg/kg) for 6 weeks. At the end of the experiment, GSK- 3 content was detected by Western blot analysis. Body weight, serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels, fasting plasma glucose and serum insulin concentrations were measured regularly and insulin sensitivity index was also computed as well. Results The outcome of Western blot analysis showed that the expression of GSK- 3 in the skeletal muscle of the model group increased by 70.20 % (P 0.01) compared with the normal group. After 6 weeks of puerarin treatment, the GSK- 3 content in the skeletal muscle of the puerarin group decreased by 26.54 % (P 0.01) compared with the model group and increased by 25.02 % (P 0.05) compared with the normal group. Conclusion Puerarin can lower the expression of GSK- 3 in the skeletal muscle of rats with insulin resistance, consequently promoting the ingestion and utilization of glucose and improving the insulin resistance.