Abstract: Objective To study, and compare with insulin, the protective effect of rhIGF-1 on stress hyperglycemia induced in dp/dp type 2 diabetic mice. Method Stress hyperglycemia was induced in dp/dp mice by means of electric pulse stimulation. Thereafter, the mice were subjected to the treatment of insulin or rhIGF-1 separately, blood glucose was measured every 30 min after the treatment through three hours. The expression of Glut4 gene in the skeletal muscle was determined by real-time PCR and the amount of GLUT4 molecules on the cell membrane was detected by western blot. Result As a result, rhIGF-1 showed more effective function on controlling stress hyperglycemia than large-dosed insulin and augment Glut4 gene expression as well as GLUT4 cell membrane content in skeletal muscle cells. Conclusion rhIGF-1 had potential therapeutic effect on stress hyperglycemia and this function may be mediated by up-regulating Glut4 expression and promoting GLUT4 membrane translocation in skeletal muscle cells.

Key words: IGF-1, Type 2 diabetic mellitus, stress hyperglycemia, GLUT4