Vaspin as a Risk Factor of Insulin Resistance in Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome in an Animal Model.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we aimed to establish a chronic intermittent hypoxia model in rats and explore the possible role of vaspin in insulin sensitivity. METHODS: Healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: normal control group (NC) and chronic intermittent hypoxia group (CIH). The NC group was raised under physiological conditions and the CIH group was kept in the plexiglass chamber between 9 am and 5 pm undergoing intermittent hypoxic challenge for 8 hours/day for 8 weeks. Arterial blood pressure of rats (tail cannulation) was measured before and after the study. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), fasting insulin (FINS), vaspin, and leptin levels were measured. Vaspin mRNA expression in visceral adipose tissues was measured with Real Time-PCR. The protein levels of vaspin, Akt and phospho-Akt in visceral tissues were determined by Western-blot. RESULTS: At baseline, all the measurements in the CIH and NC groups were comparable. By the end of the experiment, the blood pressure of the CIH group was significantly higher than the NC group. The levels of FPG, FINS, TG, TC, leptin, and vaspin in the CIH group were significantly higher than in NC group. Plasma vaspin levels were correlated with FINS, HOMA-IR, and TG levels. Vaspin expression in both mRNA and protein levels in visceral adipose tissues of the CIH group were clearly higher than the NC group. Phospho-Akt protein level was decreased in visceral adipose tissues of the CIH group compared to the NC group. CONCLUSIONS: In the chronic intermittent hypoxia rat model, the expression of vaspin in visceral adipose tissues and plasma were increased, which were correlated with insulin resistance.