Streptozotocin-induced diabetes decreases rat sarcolemmal lactate transport

Impaired lactate metabolism is a metabolic disorder, which is not fully understood in the diabetic state including streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. We investigated whether STZ-induced diabetes results in altered lactate exchanges using the rat muscle sarcolemmal vesicles (SV) model. Fifteen days after diabetes onset (1 STZ-injection, 65 mg/kg, intraperitoneal [IP]), rats had higher blood and muscle lactate concentrations compared with normal rats (1.50 +/- 0.09 v 1.95 +/- 0.21 mmol/L (not significant [NS]) and 21.02 +/- 1.26 v 25.53 +/- 0.98 mmol/kg wet weight (ww); P < .05). The initial rate of lactate uptake was measured at various external lactate concentrations using SV of both group in zero-trans conditions. STZ-induced diabetes decreased the initial rate of total lactate influx at external lactate concentrations from 1 to 100 mmol/L (P < .05). This decrease in lactate transport was found in addition to an increased free radical production, as indicated by a significant increase in malonedialdehyde (MDA) concentration (64.3 +/- 8.7 v 100.3 +/- 13.5 nmol.g(-1) ww, P < .05), coupled with a higher glutathione peroxidase (Gpx) activity (48.03 3.13 v 84.7 +/- 15.01 mu mol.min(-1).mg(-1) protein, P < .05) in red gastrocnemius. We concluded that STZ-induced diabetes decreases total lactate transport activity in rat SV and is associated with increased muscular oxidative stress. Copyright <(c)> 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.