Insulin-like effects of vanadate on rat liver 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase mRNA and protein inductions in diabetic rats.

Effects of vanadate on liver 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase (6PF-2-K/F-2,6-P2ase) mRNA and protein inductions were examined in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. In diabetic rats at one week after STZ (60 mg/kg body weight), the liver 6PF-2-K activity was decreased to 22% of the control. The enzyme protein was also decreased to 31% of the control, but the reduction in mRNA was not significant. Treatment of diabetes with vanadate (10 mg/kg BW, i.v., every 8 h), as well as insulin (10 u/kg BW, s.c., every 8 h), increased the 6PF-2-K activity and the enzyme protein content, though it was not completely restored to the control level. 68% of the control was the figure for enzyme activity and 65% of the control for protein content after 24-h of treatment. On the other hand, vanadate, like insulin, increased enzyme mRNA content to a higher level than the control (140% of the control). The present results indicate that vanadate, like insulin, modulates the liver 6PF-2-K/Fru-2,6-P2ase gene expression, and stimulated protein induction contributes to the regulation of its enzyme activity, resulting in amelioration of the deranged carbohydrate metabolism in the diabetic state.