Effects of dietary protein level and cold exposure on tissue responsiveness and sensitivity to insulin in sheep

The effects of dietary crude protein (CP) level and cold exposure on tissue responsiveness and sensitivity to insulin were studied in sheep. Nine rams were assigned to one of three isoenergetic diets which contained 70, 100, and 140% of CP for maintenance. They were exposed from a thermoneutral environment (20 degrees C) to a cold environment (0 degrees C) for 7 days. A hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp approach was applied for the determination of tissue responsiveness to insulin (the maximal glucose infusion rate, GIRmax) and tissue sensitivity to insulin (the plasma insulin concentration at half maximal glucose infusion rate, ED50). Dietary CP level influenced digestibilities of dry matter and CP (P=0.002 and P=0.001, respectively), and cold exposure decreased (P=0.01) CP digestibility. The GIRmax and ED50 tended to be influenced (P=0.08) by dietary CP level. The GIRmax was enhanced (P=0.0001) during cold exposure. Significant interactions between diet and environment were found for the GIRmax (P=0.04), but not for ED50 (P=0.07). It is concluded that in sheep dietary CP level can modify insulin action in response to cold exposure.