Abstract: Aim To observe the glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4)mRNA expression in the skeletal muscle and the relationship between GLU T4 mRNA expression and insulin secretion in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM)rats.Methods The rat models of N IDDM were made.The GLUT 4 mRNA expression in skeletal muscle was observed with Northern blot method.The serum insulin was determined by radio immunoassay.The change of insulin positiveβcell in islet was observed by immunohistochemistry.Results The GLU T4 mRNA expression in skeletal muscle in NIDDM rats was decreased to 45 %of that in normal rats (P<0.01).The fast serum insulin level was normal, but in oral glucose test, the secretion of insulin was reduced markedly and a phenomenon of delayed secret ion was observed.Immunohistochemistry experiment displayed that the volume of islet in NIDDM rats was smaller than half of that in normal rats and the number of insulin positive β cells reduced markedly.Conclusion The present study showes that in NIDDM rats the GLUT 4 mRNA expression in skeletal muscle is lower and this response is considered to have some positive correlation with insulin secretion.

Key words: non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus(N IDDM), glucose transporter 4(GLU T4), insulin