Effect of caffeine and ethanolic extract of kolanut on glucose uptake in the canine hindlimb at rest and during contraction.

The study investigated the effects of caffeine and ethanolic extract of kolanut (EEK) on glucose uptake in the canine hindlimb at rest and during contraction. Thirty male anaesthetized mongrel dogs [11-13 kg] were divided into six groups [5 dogs/group] Caffeine [6 mg/kg], EEK [5 mg/kg], or normal saline [control] was administered intravenously to each group at rest. Arterial and venous blood samples were collected at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 minutes after drug administration. Blood glucose was measured by glucose oxidase method. Arteriovenous [A-V] glucose difference was calculated and venous blood flow [VBF] was measured during the sampling period. Hindlimb glucose uptake [HGU] was calculated as the product of [A-V] glucose and blood flow. After sampling at rest, the experiments were repeated with the right femoral nerve stimulated using electrical stimulator at 5 Hz. At rest, A-V glucose increased significantly [P<0.05] from 4.2+/-0.2 mg/dl to 29.8+/-8.6, and 24.4+/-2.6 for caffeine and EEK respectively. VBF decreased to 2.0+/-0.9 and 6.0+/-0.6 ml/min for caffeine and EEK respectively. However, HGU significantly increased from 34.8+/-0.1 mg/min to 74.5+/-3.2 mg/min and 175.8+/-3.4 mg/min for caffeine and EEK, respectively. Contraction of the hindlimb muscle alone significantly increased the [A-V] glucose [68%], VBF [26%] and HGU [120%] when compared with the control. During contraction, [A-V] glucose increased from 4.3 +/-1.5 mg/dl to 35.6+/-3.0 mg/dl, and 27.0+/-2.2 mg/dl for caffeine and EEK respectively. VBF also increased from 8.4+/-0.3 ml/min to 12.8+/-0.3 ml/min for EEK. Although, contraction improves VBF [7.3+/-0.5 ml/min] to the hindlimb in response to caffeine, the value was significantly [P<0.05] lower than that of control [8.4+/-0.5 ml/min]. Contraction also significantly increased HGU from 35.8+/-3.6 mg/min to 249.0+/-3.3 and 286.72+/-2.0 mg/min for caffeine and EEK, respectively. The results showed that caffeine and EEK significantly increased HGU and that these effects are due to the increases in glucose extraction [A-V glucose] caused by caffeine and EEK.