Mitofusin-2 ameliorates high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance in liver of rats

Figure 4 Mitofusin-2 over-expression improved insulin sensitivity of rats (n = 6). Rats were fed with high-fat diets for 8 wk, and then were infected with different amount of Ad-mitofusin-2 (MFN2) (10⁸, 10⁹ or 10¹⁰ vp/kg body weight) or empty Ad adenovirus or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) control for 3 wk. MFN2 over-expression in liver of rats was confirmed by quantitative real-time-polymerase chain reaction (A) and Western-blotting (B and C). The levels of blood glucose (D), plasma insulin (E), triglycerides (TG) (G) plasma total cholesterol (TC) (F) and insulin sensitivity (H) levels were examined, respectively. The body weight of rats was measured (I). ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01 vs Ad. GIR: Glucose infusion rate.