Role of $Ca^{2+}$ in the Stimulation of Glucose Transport by Insulin in Adipocytes

We investigated the role of $Ca^{2+}$ and protein kinases/phosphatases in the stimulatory effect of insulin on glucose transport. In isolated rat adipocytes, the simple omission of $CaCl_2$ from the incubation medium significantly reduced, but did not abolish, insulin-stimulated 2-deoxy glucose (2-DG) uptake. Pre-loading adipocytes with intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ chelator, 5,5'-dimethyl bis (o-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N'N' tetraacetic acetoxymethyl ester (5,5'-dimethyl BAPTA/AM) completely blocked the stimulation. Insulin raised intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration $([Ca^{2+}]_i)$ about 1.7 times the basal level of $72{\pm}5$ nM, and 5,5'-dimethyl BAPTA/AM kept it constant at the basal level. This correlation between insulin-induced increases in 2-DG uptake and $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ indicates that the elevation of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ may be prerequisite for the stimulation of glucose transport. Studies with inhibitors (ML-9, KN-62, cyclosporin A) of $Ca^{2+}-calmodulin$ dependent protein kinases/phosphatases also indicate an involvement of intracellular $Ca^{2+}.$ Additional studies with okadaic acid and calyculin A, protein phosphatase-1 (PP-1) and 2A (PP-2A) inhibitors, indicate an involvement of PP-1 in insulin action on 2-DG uptake. These results indicate an involvement of $Ca^{2+}-dependent$ signaling pathway in insulin action on glucose transport.