Chronic rosiglitazone treatment restores AMPKα2 activity in insulin-resistant rat skeletal muscle.

Rosiglitazone (RSG) is an insulin-sensitizing thiazolidinedione (TZD) that exerts peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ)-dependent and -independent effects. We tested the hypothesis that part of the insulin-sensitizing effect of RSG is mediated through the action of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). First, we determined the effect of acute (30–60 min) incubation of L6 myotubes with RSG on AMPK regulation and palmitate oxidation. Compared with control (DMSO), 200 μM RSG increased (P < 0.05) AMPKα1 activity and phosphorylation of AMPK (Thr¹⁷²). In addition, acetyl-CoA carboxylase (Ser²¹⁸) phosphorylation and palmitate oxidation were increased (P < 0.05) in these cells. To investigate the effects of chronic RSG treatment on AMPK regulation in skeletal muscle in vivo, obese Zucker rats were randomly allocated into two experimental groups: control and RSG. Lean Zucker rats were treated with vehicle and acted as a control group for obese Zucker rats. Rats were dosed daily for 6 wk with either vehicle (0.5% carboxymethylcellulose, 100 μl/100 g body mass), or 3 mg/kg RSG. AMPKα1 activity was similar in muscle from lean and obese animals and was unaffected by RSG treatment. AMPKα2 activity was ∼25% lower in obese vs. lean animals (P < 0.05) but was normalized to control values after RSG treatment. ACC phosphorylation was decreased with obesity (P < 0.05) but restored to the level of lean controls with RSG treatment. Our data demonstrate that RSG restores AMPK signaling in skeletal muscle of insulin-resistant obese Zucker rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]