ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of glimepiride on the glucose uptake as well as glucose transporter (GLUT)-1 and GLUT-3 expression levels of rat mandibular osteoblasts in hyperglycemia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Primary osteoblasts were isolated and cultured. Then, the cells were placed in an osteogenic medium containing two glucose concentrations (5.5 and 16.5 mmol X L(-1)), with or without glimepiride (10 micromol x L(-1)). Glucose uptake was determined by employing 18F-deoxyglucose (18F-FDG) in the cells, and GLUT-1 and GLUT-3 expression levels were evaluated by Western blot analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Glucose at 16.5 mmol x L(-1) significantly inhibited 18F-FDG uptake and downregulated GLUT-3 protein expression in osteoblasts. Hyperglycemia increased GLUT-1 protein expression. Glimepiride significantly increased glucose uptake and upregulated GLUT-1 and GLUT-3.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Glimepiride enhance the glucose transporter in rat osteoblasts at two different glucose concentrations.</p>