Neuregulin 1 treatment improves glucose tolerance in diabetic db/db mice, but not in healthy mice

<b>Context:</b> Neuregulin 1 (NRG1) and ErbB receptors are involved in glucose homeostasis. However, the effects of the neuregulin 1-ErbB pathway activation on glucose metabolism in liver are controversial.<b>Objective:</b> Assess NRG1 and ErbB signalling in liver and the effects of 8-week treatment with NRG1 on glucose homeostasis in diabetic db/db mice and in control healthy mice.<b>Results:</b> NRG1 improved glucose, insulin and insulin sensitivity index during OGTT in db/db mice, but not in control mice. Compared with healthy mice, phosphorylation of p38, ErbB-1 and ErbB-3 was increased in diabetic mice, and neuregulin 1 treatment increased phosphorylation of p38 and ErbB-4. Conversely, the AKT/FOXO1 pathway was not affected by the 8-week treatment with NRG1.<b>Conclusion:</b> Diabetic mice showed altered NRG1-ErbB pathway in the liver compared with healthy mice. Moreover, chronic NRG1 treatment increased p38 phosphorylation in liver and improved glucose tolerance in diabetic mice, but not in control mice.