Basic ScienceNegative regulation of glucose metabolism in human myotubes by supraphysiological doses of 17β-estradiol or testosterone

ObjectiveExposure of skeletal muscle to high levels of testosterone or estrogen induces insulin resistance, but evidence regarding the direct role of either sex hormone on metabolism is limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the direct effect of acute sex hormone exposure on glucose metabolism in skeletal muscle.Materials/MethodsDifferentiated human skeletal myotubes were exposed to either 17β-estradiol or testosterone and metabolic characteristics were assessed. Glucose incorporation into glycogen, glucose oxidation, palmitate oxidation, and phosphorylation of key signaling proteins were determined.ResultsTreatment of myotubes with either 17β-estradiol or testosterone decreased glucose incorporation into glycogen. Exposure of myotubes to 17β-estradiol reduced glucose oxidation under basal and insulin-stimulated conditions. However, testosterone treatment enhanced basal palmitate oxidation and prevented insulin action on glucose and palmitate oxidation. Acute stimulation of myotubes with testosterone reduced phosphorylation of S6K1 and p38 MAPK. Exposure of myotubes to either 17β-estradiol or testosterone augmented phosphorylation GSK3βSer9 and PKCδThr505, two negative regulators of glycogen synthesis. Treatment of myotubes with a PKC specific inhibitor (GFX) restored the effect of either sex hormone on glycogen synthesis. PKCδ silencing restored glucose incorporation into glycogen to baseline in response to 17β-estradiol, but not testosterone treatment.ConclusionAn acute exposure to supraphysiological doses of either 17β-estradiol or testosterone regulates glucose metabolism, possibly via PKC signaling pathways. Furthermore, testosterone treatment elicits additional alterations in serine/threonine kinase signaling, including the ribosomal protein S6K1 and p38 MAPK.