Enhanced Nrf2 activity increases glucose tolerance and Akt phosphorylation upon insulin challenge.

<p>(<b>A</b> and <b>B</b>) Keap1-KD mice have a lower glucose load. Ten-week-old C57BL/6 (WT) and Keap1-KD (KD) mice fasted overnight were challenge with glucose (2g/kg) and blood glucose levels were determined at 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 mins after glucose administration (n=6 per group) (*, P<0.05, Keap1-KD compared with WT mice). (<b>C</b>) Gene expression in skeletal muscle from C57BL/6 (WT) and Keap1-KD (KD) at 16-week-old age. The relative mRNA levels were quantified by quantitative real-time PCR and normalized with 18S as loading control (n=5 to 6 per group) (*, P<0.05, Keap1-KD compared with WT mice). (<b>D</b>) Immunoblot analysis of Glut4 in skeletal muscle of C57BL/6 (WT) and Keap1-KD (KD) mice at 16-week-old age. GAPDH was used as loading control. (<b>E</b>) Enhanced Nrf2 activity increased p-Akt levels upon insulin administration in skeletal muscle. Fifteen-week-old C57BL/6 (WT) and Keap1-KD (KD) mice fasted for 6 hrs were injected with a maximal bolus of insulin (5 U/kg) via portal vein. Five minutes later, gastrocnemius muscles were removed and snap frozen in lipid nitrogen. &, P<0.05 as indicated.