Long term culture of rat soleus muscle in vitro. Its effects on glucose utilization and insulin sensitivity.

Rat soleus muscle strips cultured for 24 h in medium 199 were well preserved in terms of electron microscopy; ATP and creatine phosphate concentrations; rates of glucose utilization, glycogen and protein synthesis, and effects of insulin thereon. Culture led to modest changes in fluid spaces and intracellular (K+); increased basal glucose utilization up to two-fold; had no effect on the maximum response to insulin; and had no effect on sensitivity to insulin except in the presence of adenosine deaminase. Thus in vitro neither denervation nor absence of insulin had any marked effects in 24 h to decrease responses to insulin.