High-Salt Intake Ameliorates Hyperglycemia and Insulin Resistance in WBN/Kob- Leprfa/fa Rats: A New Model of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

J Diabetes Res. 2018 Mar 20:2018:3671892. doi: 10.1155/2018/3671892. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

High-salt intake is a major risk factor for developing hypertension in type 2 diabetes mellitus, but its effects on glucose homeostasis are controversial. We previously found that high-salt intake induces severe hypertension in WBN/Kob diabetic fatty (WBKDF) rats. In the present study, we examined the effects of a high-salt intake on glucose homeostasis in WBKDF rats. Male WBKDF rats and age-matched Wistar rats at 6 weeks of age were each divided into two groups and fed either a normal-sodium (NS, 0.26%) diet or high-sodium (HS, 8%) diet for 7 weeks. Systolic blood pressure and urine volume were increased in WBKDF-HS and Wistar-HS. Body weight gain and food consumption were comparable between NS and HS in both strains. Plasma and urine glucose levels were significantly increased in WBKDF-NS but not in WBKDF-HS. HOMA-IR in WBKDF-HS was significantly lower compared with that in WBKDF-NS. The high plasma adiponectin level in WBKDF-NS compared with that in Wistar-NS was further enhanced in WBKDF-HS. Glycogen deposits and fat droplets in the livers of WBKDF-HS were reduced compared with those of WBKDF-NS. The present study demonstrated that HS intake ameliorated hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in WBKDF rats, which may be due to increased plasma levels of adiponectin.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Glucose
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / metabolism*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Eating / drug effects
  • Glucose Tolerance Test
  • Hyperglycemia / diet therapy*
  • Insulin Resistance / physiology*
  • Male
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Sodium, Dietary / administration & dosage*
  • Sodium, Dietary / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Sodium, Dietary