Endocrine Abstracts

Evidences have suggested that the endocannabinoid system is overactive in obesity, resulting in enhanced endocannabinoid levels in both circulation and visceral adipose tissue. The cannabinoid CB1 receptor is expressed in the adipose tissue besides the brain. Few studies in vitro suggest that CB1 activation increases glucose uptake in adipocytes. The objective of the present study was to investigate the CB1 receptor modulation on glucose transporter GLUT4 expression, which is ...

Introduction: Insulin resistance results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors and it may be considered the primary cause of the development of metabolic disorders, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is characterized by a reduced ability of insulin sensitivity tissues to respond to normal levels of the hormone. In these tissues, glucose transport stimulated by insulin occurs through the glucose transporter 4 and alterations in its expression are related to ...

Introduction: High circulating levels of some but not all unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) can be related with reduced insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake in skeletal muscle. The real mechanisms by which UFAs impair the insulin sensitivity need to be clarified; nevertheless the UFA’s effects in the regulation of activity and/or expression of some transcriptional factors such as, nuclear factor κB (NFκB), hypoxia inducible factor-1a (HIF-1a), peroxisome prolifer...