Abstract: AIM: To investigate the effect of puerarin on expression of the glucogen synthase kinase-3 bate(GSK-3β) in adipocyte of rats with insulin resistance in-duced by diets.METHODS: 30 Wisterrats were ran-domized into two groups:control grouP(n =10) and model grouP(n =20).Control groupwere fed with gener-al diets,while model grouPwere fed with the high fat di-ets to induce insulin resistance.After4weeks,the mode-ls have formed then were randomized into two groups:model grouP(n =10) and pueraringrouP(n =10).Pu-erarin grouPwere treated with puerarin (100mg·kg^-1·d^-1,ip) for6 weeks.GSK-3βprotein was de-tected by Western-blot analysis.Body weight,serum trig-lyceride and cholesterol,fasting plasma glucose and serum insulin concentration were detected termly and the insulin sensitivity index was calculated.RESULTS: The model grouPshowed hyperglycemia,hyperinsulinism,obviously obesity and the insulin resistance index (ISI) decrease by high fat diets,insulin resistance was induced by this way.Compared with model group,GSK-3βprotein in ad-ipocyte of puerarin grouPrats decreased (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Puerarin can decrease the expression of GSK-3βprotein in adipocyte of ratswith insulin resistance which may be involved in the mechanism of amelioration the state of insulin resistance.

Key words: puerarin, glucogen synthase kinase-3 bate (GSK-3β), insulin resistance, adipocyte, animal model