Analysis of the downstream insulin signaling pathways in the healthy atria.

A) Insulin stimulates phosphorylation of Akt at s473 and Th308 site in atrial myocytes. Top panel: representative Western blot from total lysate of isolated rat atrial myocytes incubated with (0.01μM) and without (basal) insulin; calsequestrin (CLSQ) was used as a loading control. Bottom panel: Mean ± SE of protein expression (values expressed relative to basal; n = 5/group); # P<0.05 vs. basal. B) Significant linear positive linear correlation between Akt phosphorylation (at s473 and Th308 site) and GLUT4 expression in the healthy atria. C) Insulin stimulates phosphorylation of AS160 in atrial myocytes. Top panel: representative Western blot from total lysate of isolated rat atrial myocytes; calsequestrin (CLSQ) was used as a loading control. Bottom panel: Mean ± SE of protein expression (values expressed relative to basal; n = 6-8/group); # P<0.05 vs. basal. D) Significant linear correlation between AS160 phosphorylation and GLUT-4 and -8 expression in the healthy atria.