Assessment of the glucose transporter protein GLUT4 content in skeletal muscle of adult rats with periapical lesion

Abstract

Currently, there is some consensus in the dental area related to the fact that chronic inflammation in teeth may eventually lead to systemic disorders. Periapical lesion (PL) is characterized as an oral inflammation and it is associated to the increase of proinflammatory citokines, such as IL-6 and TNF-alpha, that can possibly induce insulin resistance. Insulin resistance can be defined as the state in which there is a glucose uptake decrease by tissue in response to insulin stimulation, however, the mechanisms that cause insulin resistance are not totally understood. Former studies from our laboratory demonstrated that adult rats with periapical lesion showed changes in the initial stage of insulin signaling and lower insulin sensitivity. Knowing this, more studies are needed to verify whether these changes are also present in the continuity of the insulin signaling cascade and in the glucose transporter protein 4 (GLUT4) content. The objectives of this study will be to evaluate in skeletal muscle gastrocnemius of rats with PL: 1) threonine phosphorylation status of Akt (n=6); 2) Akt content (n=6) and 3) GLUT4 content (n=6). Therefore, 12 Wistar rats (2 months old) will be used and divided into two groups: a) control rats without PL b) rats with PL induced in right upper molars by using a carbon steel drill fitted with ball 0.1 mm.