Emina Sudar,¹ Branislava Dobutovic,¹ Tijana Milosavljevic,¹ Biljana Putnikovic,² Zoran Gluvic² and Esma R. Isenovic¹

¹ Institute Vinca, Laboratory of Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, P.O. Box 522, 11001 Belgrade, Serbia
² Clinical Hospital Center Zemun, Department of Endocrinology and Cardiology, Vukova 8, 11080 Zemun, Serbia

* Corresponding author: E-mail: sudare@vinca.rs;
Phon/Fax: +381-11-80-66-868

Abstract
Insulin (INS) and β-estradiol (E₂) have vascular effects partially through stimulation of protein kinase B (Akt) phosphorylation. Employing adult rat cardiomyocytes (ARC), the effects of acute (15 min) stimulation with INS (10 mIU/ml) and prolonged (2 hours and 24 hours) stimulation with E₂ alone or in combination, were assessed with respect to protein levels of Akt. Exposure to INS for 15 minutes enhanced Akt Ser⁴⁷³ phosphorylation. The combined treatment had a greater effect on Akt phosphorylation then the effect of INS alone. The results suggest that INS and E₂ may interact through Akt in regulating metabolic processes.

Keywords: Adult rat cardiomyocytes, insulin, estradiol, signaling pathways, protein kinase B