[Hypoadiponectinemia leads to insulin resistance in OLETF rats: a preliminary study].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between plasma adiponectin and insulin resistance in OLETF rats. METHODS: Twenty male Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats and 10 male Long-evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) rats underwent oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at 13 and 40 weeks of age. At 8, 32 and 40 weeks of age, the rats were sacrificed to measure the blood glucose, plasma insulin and adiponectin levels, and serum levels of TG, CHOL and FFA. RESULTS: The plasma adiponectin level was significantly decreased in 8-week-old OLETF rats compared with that of LETO rats (P<0.05). The plasma insulin level, TG, CHOL, and FFA were significantly higher in OLETF rats than in LETO rats at 32 and 40 weeks of age. CONCLUSION: A decreased plasma level of adiponectin preludes insulin resistance and is inversely correlated to insulin sensitivity. Hypoadiponectinemia may be an important reason leading to insulin resistance.