Reduced effect of experimental peripheral hyperinsulinemia to elevate cerebrospinal fluid insulin concentrations of obese zucker rats

To test the effect of chronic hyperinsulinemia on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) insulin concentrations in the obese (fafa) Zucker rat, obese and heterozygote lean (Fafa) rats were infused peripherally with insulin or vehicle for 6 days. Both basal levels and the increase of plasma immunoreactive insulin (IRI) were greater in fafa (increase = 713 µU/ml) than in Fafa (increase = 392 µU/ml) rats, P ≪ 0.0001. Vehicle-infused fafa rats had higher CSF IRI levels than did vehicle-infused Fafa rats (4.3 ± 1.2 µU/ml vs. 1.5 ± 0.4 µU/ml, P ≪ 0.01). CSF IRI was elevated in both insulin-infused groups (P ≪ 0.001). After insulin infusion Fafa rats had higher CSF IRI levels than did fafa rats (Fafa: 10.0 ±1.8 µU/ml vs. fafa: 7.1 ± 0.1 µU/ml). In contrast to the effect of insulin infusion on plasma IRI, the increase of CSF IRI was greater in Fafa rats (8.5 µU/ml) than in fafa rats (4.0 µU/ml, P ≪ 0.001). Uptake of insulin from the periphery to the CSF therefore appears to be reduced in obese fafa Zucker rats compared to lean Fafa controls.