FIGURE 2.

HGF stimulates glucose uptake and utilization but does not alter glucose incorporation into glycogen in L6 myotubes. A, Western blot analysis of HGF and c-Met expression in two different cultures of L6 myoblasts before (left two lanes) and after differentiation into L6 myotubes (right two lanes). Actin expression was determined to ensure similar protein loading. HGF time (B) and dose (C) dependently stimulated glucose transport in L6 myotubes. Cells were incubated with HGF (25 ng/ml) for several time periods and with various concentrations for 24 h as indicated in the figure. Uptake of 2-[³H]deoxyglucose (DOG) was measured during a 5-min period as described under “Experimental Procedures.” D, HGF (25 ng/ml) increased glucose utilization in L6 myotubes. E, effect of HGF (25 ng/ml) and/or 100 nm insulin on [U-¹⁴C]glucose incorporation into glycogen in L6 myotubes. Values are means ± S.E. of at least four experiments performed in triplicate. *, p < 0.025 and **, p < 0.01 versus control or 0 value; +, p < 0.05 versus uptake in the previous time point or concentration.