Insulin action on glucose transport and calcium fluxes in developing muscle cells in vitro.

The glucose transport system of developing muscle cells in vitro is described. Uptake experiments showed stereospecificity but no saturation or competition. Km-values for early myoblasts could not be determined; with progressive development, the absolute amount of uptake increases and becomes insulin sensitive. Km-values of about 13 mM basal and 32 mM for insulin stimulation were determined and discussed with respect to the glucose transport mechanism. Basal and insulin-dependent transport were shown to be dependent on the presence of calcium in the medium. Moreover, the ionophore A 23187 could be shown to mimic the insulin effect on glucose uptake. 45Ca saturation and desaturation experiments showed that insulin enhances the "mitochondrial" calcium pool by 35% and increases the apparent "cytoplasmic" efflux rate constant by 50%. We propose that insulin increases the free cytoplasmic calcium concentration, which may be the intracellular signal for the stimulation of glucose transport.