ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the mechanism of Chinese herbal medicine compound (Kaiyuqingwei Decoction) improving islet cells function of type 2 diabetes. Methods The models of type 2 diabetic rats were established by feeding with high-fat-diet and injecting low dosage of streptozotocin (15 mg/kg BW). Rats were randomly divided into model group, Kaiyuqingwei group, and Rosiglitazone group and normal control was established, at the same time, fasting and post-glucose loading 2 hours blood glucose, serum fructosamine and basal insulin were determined. Euglycemic hyperinsulin clamp technique was adopted to evaluate insulin sensitivity of periphery tissues, and intravenous glucose tolerance test to evaluate islets function. Adopting immunohistochemistry stain (EnVision) and computer image analysis technique to determine the expression of insulin, insulin receptor and insulin receptor substrate-1 in islets. Results There were insulin resistance, dysfunction of islet cells and obvious increase of blood glusose in model rats. All these could be improved by Kaiyuqingwei Decoction and Rosiglitazone. Meanwhile, immunohistochemistry stain of islets demonstrated that Kaiyuqingwei Decoction could increase expression of IRc and IRS-1. Conclusion Kaiyuqingwei Decoction have a certain positive role in improving glucose metabolism of type 2 diabetic rats. The mechanism include two aspects, one is elevation of insulin sensitivity, another is amelioration of dysfunction of islet cells. One of the important mechanisms of amelioration of dysfunction in islet cells is amelioration of insulin signal transduction in pancreatic islets.