Comparison of superior mesenteric versus jugular venous infusions of insulin in streptozotocin-diabetic rats on the choice of caloric intake, body weight, and fat stores

Corticosterone ( B) increases and insulin decreases food intake. However, in streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats with high B, low insulin replacement promotes lard intake. To test the role of the liver on this, rats were given STZ and infused with insulin or vehicle into either the superior mesenteric or right jugular vein. Controls were nondiabetic; all rats were treated with high B. After 5 d, all rats were offered lard, 32% sucrose, chow, and water ad libitum until d 10. Diabetes exacerbated body weight loss from high B; this was prevented by insulin into the jugular, but not superior mesenteric, vein. Without insulin, STZ groups essentially consumed only chow; controls increased caloric intake about equally from the three sources. Insulin into both sites reduced chow and increased lard intake. Although circulating insulin was increased only by jugular infusion, plasma glucose and liver glycogen were similar after insulin into both sites. Fat depot weights differed: sc fat was heavier after jugular and mesenteric fat was heavier after mesenteric insulin infusions. We conclude that there are important site-specific effects of insulin in regulating the choice of, but not total, caloric intake, body weight, and fat storage in diabetic rats with high B. Furthermore, lard intake might be regulated by an insulin-derived, liver-mediated signal because superior mesenteric insulin infusion had similar effects on lard intake to jugular infusion but did not result in elevated circulating insulin levels likely associated with liver insulin removal.