Abstract:

Objective     To investigate influences on glycogen synthase kinase-3β(GSK-3β), AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK) and glucose transporter type 4(GLUT4) after ethanol feeding for a long time. Methods     AMPK activator (AICAR) was injected into rats and influences on hepatic glycogen, GSK-3β and AMPK were observed. 48 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: feeding different doses of ethanol (A,B,C, 5,2.5, 0.5g/kg·d) or normal saline (D) for 20 weeks. Then GSK-3β, AMPK (AMPKα, P-AMPKα) and GLUT4 proteins, AMPK and GLUT4 mRNAs, and glycogen in the liver were measured. Results     AICAR injection resulted in high expressions of glycogen and phosphorylated AMPKα(P-AMPKα) and lower expression of GSK-3β in the liver of rats. In ethanol-fed rats, GSK-3β was over-expressed in the three ethanol feeding groups, especially in group A ,while the P-AMPKα protein expression was significantly decreased(P<0.01). The decreased mRNA and protein expressions of GLUT4 were found(P<0.05). Conclusion      Long-time ethanol feeding affected GSK-3β and AMPK levels, and then decreased the level of hepatic glycogen.

Key words: Ethanol; Glycogen synthese kinase-3; 5′ AMP activated protein kinase; Glycogen; Rat, Wistar