Companion Animals Insulin Sensitivity and Insensitivity

Dear Colleagues,

Since its discovery in 1921, insulin has been recognized as one of key hormones of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. Moreover, the intricate relationship between insulin control and the mediators of insulin resistance became a crucial point of nutrient oversupply and biological impact of environmental pollutants.

As is well known, the incidence of diabetes mellitus increases, not only in human subjects, but also in companion animal patients. However, the role of insulin is confined not only to regulation of blood glucose concentration, but it also acts at numerous points of metabolism. Somatic cells of tissues such skeletal muscle, liver and adipose tissue express insulin receptors and perform distinct roles in metabolic homeostasis through tissue-specific signal transduction pathways. Insulin promotes glucose utilization, storage and transportation, parallel with lipolysis and lipogenesis, depending on the tissue-specific location of insulin-responsive cells.

Insulin action interferes with numerous physiological processes besides glucose homeostasis, such as the stress reaction physiology of the central nervous system. Moreover, receptor expression and gene transcription were affected by the incorporation of chemicals which are alimentally or environmentally originated. The complex action of insulin impacts on food uptake, weight gain and loss, stress reaction, cognitive functions, tumor development and exacerbation, whose process is conducive to clinical signs manifestation.

This Special Issue aims to collect updated knowledge about insulin action and factors, increasing the insulin resistance in relation to endogen and exogen factors in dog and cat. In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following: circumstances of insulin secretion and resistance in dog and cat; environmental effects on insulin action; relation of overnutrition and insulin resistance.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Julianna Thuróczy
Guest Editor

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• insulin secretion
• insulin action
• insulin resistance
• insulin receptor expression
• carbohydrate metabolism
• lipid metabolism
• companion animal
• environmental pollution
• obesity
• stress