Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Galanin can promote skeletal muscle glucose transporter protein 4 membrane translocation and glucose clearance. Glucose transporter protein 4 is the main carrier of the movement to promote skeletal muscle glucose uptake, thereby increasing skeletal muscle glucose uptake and lowering blood sugar.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the combined effect of galanin and insulin on skeletal muscle glucose transporter protein 4 membrane displacement in diabetic rats.
METHODS: The first author searched PubMed database (1991-01/2011-12) (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed) and Wanfang Database (1991-01/2011-12) (http://www.wanfangdata.com.cn) using the key words of “galanin, insulin” in English and “galanin, glucose transporter protein 4” in Chinese, respectively. Totally 143 papers were retrieved, and finally 37 articles were included that were related to clinical application and characteristics of galanin and insulin to improve skeletal muscle glucose uptake. Obsolete and duplicate papers were excluded, and articles published recently or in authorized journals were preferred.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Galanin is a widely distributed neuropeptide in the nervous system, with a wide range of neurological and biological functions. It has been recognized that the movement can promote plasma galanin concentration and galanin has a protective mechanism in type 2 diabetic patients. Both galanin and insulin can reduce blood glucose level, and diabetes mellitus is the result of the common barriers of galanin and insulin. Therefore, combination of galanin and insulin becomes a focus that whether the combination effects on skeletal muscle glucose transporter protein 4 membrane displacement is better than that of galanin or insulin alone.