Expression of glucose transporterâ2, glucokinase and mitochondrial glycerolphosphate dehydrogenase in pancreatic islets during rat ontogenesis
2002
GarcíaâFlores, Marta | Zueco, José Antonio | Arenas, Joaquín | Blázquez, Enrique
To gain better insight into the insulin secretory activity of fetal βâcells in response to glucose, the expression of glucose transporter 2 (GLUTâ2), glucokinase and mitochondrial glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase (mGDH) were studied. Expression of GLUTâ2 mRNA and protein in pancreatic islets and liver was significantly lower in fetal and suckling rats than in adult rats. The glucokinase content of fetal islets was significantly higher than of suckling and adult rats, and in liver the enzyme appeared for the first time on about day 20 of extrauterine life. The highest content of hexokinaseâI was found in fetal islets, after which it decreased progressively to the adult values. Glucokinase mRNA was abundantly expressed in the islets of all the experimental groups, whereas in liver it was only present in adults and 20âdayâold suckling rats. In fetal islets, GLUTâ2 and glucokinase protein and their mRNA increased as a function of increasing glucose concentration, whereas reduced mitochondrial citrate synthase, succinate dehydrogenase and cytochromeâc oxidase activities and mGDH expression were observed. These findings, together with those reported by others, may help to explain the decreased insulin secretory activity of fetal βâcells in response to glucose.
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