The application of 2-NBDG as a fluorescent tracer for assessing hepatic glucose production in mice during hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp

Methods of performing insulin clamps vary between laboratories.Here we present a protocol of insulin clamping in conscious mice,with the significant advantage of avoiding multiple surgical catheterizations and non-physiologic metabolism during the induction of anesthesia.Using this technique we also established a new method for measuring hepa tic glucose production(HGP)using a fuorescent D-glucose analog,2-[N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)amino]-2-deoxyglu-cose(2-NBDG).To prove the reliability and feasibility of this method,whole-body insulin sensitivity was compared between conscious normal ICR mice and diabetic KK^(Ay) mice using the insulin clamp.Basal and clamp HGP was compared between normal C57 mice and diabetic db/db mice by using the modified clamp with 2-NBDG as a tracer.The glucose infusion rate(GIR),an index of insulin sensitivity,was significantly lower in KKAy mice than normal ICR mice.(6.2±1.3 mg/kg/min vs.31.3±2.9 mg/kg/min,P<0.001).The db/db mice also showed higher basal hepatic glucose production(25.8±2.2 mg/kg/min vs.16.7±2.5 mg/kg/min,P<0.05),higher clamp HGP after insulin suppression(7.3±1.0 mg/kg/min vs.0 mg/kg/min,P<0.001),and lower GIR(71.6±2.8 mg/kg/min vs.15.2±1.6 mg/kg/min,P<0.001)than that obtained with normal C57 mice.In conclusion,this is the first report of the application of 2-NBDG,rather than isotopic tracers,for the determination of HGP in vivo.