Hepatic muscarinic acetylcholine receptors are not critically involved in maintaining glucose homeostasis in mice.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

An increase in the rate of hepatic glucose production is the major determinant of fasting hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes. A better understanding of the signaling pathways and molecules that regulate hepatic glucose metabolism is therefore of great clinical importance. Recent studies suggest that an increase in vagal outflow to the liver leads to decreased hepatic glucose production and reduced blood glucose levels. Since acetylcholine (ACh) is the major neurotransmitter of the vagus nerve and exerts its parasympathetic actions via activation of muscarinic ACh receptors (mAChRs), we examined the potential metabolic relevance of hepatocyte mAChRs.

Research design and methods

We initially demonstrated that the M(3) mAChR is the only mAChR subtype expressed by mouse

SUBMITTER: Li JH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2780871 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature