Abstract
As insulin sensitivity may help to explain divergences in growth and body composition between native and modern breeds, metabolic responses to glucose infusion were measured using an intra-arterial glucose tolerance test (IAGTT). Iberian (n = 4) and Landrace (n = 5) barrows (47.0 ± 1.2 kg BW), fitted with a permanent carotid artery catheter were injected with glucose (500 mg/kg BW) and blood samples collected at −10, 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120 and 180 min following glucose infusion. Plasma samples were analysed for insulin, glucose, lactate, triglycerides, cholesterol, creatinine, albumin and urea. Insulin sensitivity indices were calculated and analysed. Mean plasma glucose, creatinine and cholesterol concentrations were lower (P < 0.01) in Iberian (14, 68 and 22%, respectively) compared with Landrace pigs during the IAGTT. However, mean plasma insulin, lactate, triglycerides and urea concentrations were greater (P < 0.001) in Iberian (50, 35, 18 and 23%, respectively) than in Landrace pigs. Iberian pigs had larger area under the curve (AUC) of insulin (P < 0.05) and lactate (P < 0.1), and smaller (P < 0.05) AUC for glucose 0-60 min compared with Landrace pigs. Indices for estimating insulin sensitivity in fasting conditions indicated improved β-cell function in Iberian compared with Landrace pigs, but no difference (P > 0.10) in calculated insulin sensitivity index was found after IAGTT between breeds. A time response (P < 0.05) was obtained for insulin, glucose and lactate so that maximum concentration was achieved 10 and 15 min post-infusion for insulin (Iberian and Landrace pigs, respectively), immediately post-infusion for glucose, and 20 min post-infusion for lactate, decreasing thereafter until basal levels. There was no time effect for the rest of metabolites evaluated. In conclusion, growing Iberian pigs challenged with an IAGTT showed changes in biochemical parameters and insulin response that may indicate an early stage of insulin resistance.
Implications The pig has evolved as a complementary alternative research model to laboratory animals for obesity studies in humans. Obesity is characterized by an over-accumulation of body fat and is often linked to insulin resistance. The Iberian pig, a breed very much appreciated for their expensive cured products, is a candidate swine model with elevated capacity of fat deposition. We have shown that growing Iberian pigs also show features compatible with an installation of early insulin resistance
Competing Interest Statement
The authors have declared no competing interest.
Footnotes
Overall change after peer review process by Peer Community in Animal Science.
