Study Overview
Insulin is a hormone that regulates energy metabolism. In response to high blood glucose, it signals adipose and muscle tissues to transport glucose from the bloodstream into cells. Substances that are capable of promoting glucose uptake are suggested to have insulin-like effects, and may be important as an anti-diabetic treatment. Other substances that reduce glucose intake in adipocytes are also important as anti-obesity treatments.
In this assay, we use adipocytes and/or differentiated myotubes to evaluate if a test substance influences glucose uptake. In cases where glucose uptake is increased, this is likely an insulin-like effect. Whereas if glucose uptake is inhibited, this would be considered anti-obesity-like effects.
Study example
Basic Experimental design
| Cells used | Skeletal muscle cells (L6, etc.) Adipocytes (3T3-L1) Brown adipocytes, etc. |
|---|---|
| Preliminary study | Cytotoxicity assay |
| Main study | Measurement of glucose uptake into cells in the presence or absence of insulin |
*All our studies are mainly performed and handled by our team of PhD scientists.
