Pharmacological vasodilation improves insulin-stimulated muscle
protein anabolism but not glucose utilization in older adults
1. Elena Volpi (evolpi{at},2   1. 1Sealy Center on Aging   2.
Departments of 2Internal Medicine and   3. 3Physical Therapy;
and   4. 4Division of Rehabilitation Sciences; University of
Texas Medical Branch, Galveston   Objective. Skeletal muscle
protein metabolism is resistant to the anabolic action of
insulin in healthy, non-diabetic older adults. This defect is
associated with impaired insulin-induced vasodilation and mTORC1
signaling. We hypothesized that, in older subjects,
pharmacological restoration of insulin-induced capillary
recruitment would improve the response of muscle protein
synthesis and anabolism to insulin.  Research Design and
Methods. Twelve healthy, non-diabetic older subjects (71±2 yrs)
were randomized to two groups. Subjects were studied at baseline
and during local infusion in one leg of insulin alone (Control)
or insulin plus sodium nitroprusside (SNP) at va