Figure 7. Effects of expression of the MCP-1 mutant 7ND on insulin sensitivity in obese mice.

(A) Insulin tolerance test in db/db mice determined insulin sensitivity 21 days after transfection of 8-week-old animals with the 7ND vector (n = 10) or the corresponding empty plasmid as a control (Con, n = 6). (B) Insulin (left) and glucose (right) tolerance tests performed 21 days after transfection of 8-week-old db/+m mice with the 7ND vector (n = 8) or the corresponding empty plasmid (n = 7). (C) Insulin (left) and glucose (right) tolerance tests performed 21 days after transfection of 30-week-old C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat diet since 6 weeks of age with either the 7ND expression vector or the corresponding empty plasmid. Data are mean ± SEM (insulin tolerance test, n = 4; glucose tolerance test, n = 5 [7ND], 7 [empty vector]). (D) Hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp analysis of db/db mice performed 21 days after transfection of 8-week-old animals with the 7ND vector (n = 4) or the corresponding empty plasmid (n = 5). Data are mean ± SEM. (E) Appearance of the liver (left) and hepatic triglyceride content (n = 4, right) in db/db mice 21 days after injection of 8-week-old animals with the 7ND expression plasmid or the corresponding empty vector. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 versus mice injected with the empty vector.