Effect of fenofibrate on the expression of uncoupling protein 3 gene in skeletal muscle of diabetic rats fed with high fat diet

Aim To explore the effect of long-term high fat diet on the expression of uncoupling (UCP3) gene in skeletal muscle of diabetic mellitus (DM) rats, and the effect of the fenofibrate therapy. Method Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group (NC,n=10), diabetic normal chow group (DN, n=12), Diabetic high fat diet group (DH, n=12) and high fat diet plus fenofibrate treatment group(DHF,n=12) After 10 weeks, the fasting plasma glucose(FPG)、free fatty acid(FFA)、triglyceride(TG)、insulin and the content of FFA、TG in muscle were measured. Homeostasis Model Assessment insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR) was applied to assess the status of insulin resistance. The change of the expression of UCP3 in skeletal muscle was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).Results Compared with NC and DN group, the level of FFA and TG in DH were significantly increased (p0.01) , and this is also true to the expression of UCP3 gene (P0.01) and HOMA2-IR (P0.01).Comparedwith DH group, the level of FFA and TG both in plasma and muscle of the DHIF group were significantly decreased (P0.01).And the insulin sensitivity (HOMA2-IR ) was improved (P0.01). Moreover, the expression of UCP3 gene was increased(P0.01).Conclusion High fat diet increase the level of plasma fatty、result in lipid deposition in muscle and insulin resistance (IR). Fenofibrate treatment lowened the level of plasma TG and FFA and lipid ectopic deposition and improved insulin sensitivity. The effect of improving insulin sensitivity may involve in the overexpression of UCP3 gene.