Effect of insulin on kinetics of sugar transport in heart muscle

Insulin increased the maximal rate of sugar transport in the perfused rat heart, but had essentially no effect on the Michaelis constant of sugar entry or half-maximal constant for equilibrium exchange. In control hearts, the following kinetic parameters of 3-O-methylglucose transport were measured: Michaelis constant for entry, 7-10 mM; equilibrium exchange constant, 7 mM; and activity constant (Vmax/Km) from 0.02 to 0.1 ml/g.min. In insulin-treated hearts, these values were 6 mM, 3 mM, and 2.2 ml/g.min, respectively. These changes in transport constants were consistent with a model in which sequestered carrier was released by the hormone or carrier movement, in all forms and directions, was accelerated. Measurements of glucose transport in control hearts indicated that the Michaelis constant for entry was 4 mM and the activity constant, 0.5 ml/g.min. In insulin-treated hearts, quantitation of transport parameters was prevented by accumulation of intracellular glucose.