Fig. 3

Assessment of glucose homeostasis in obese rats treated with anti-obesity drugs. A Line plot showing average values for plasma glucose and insulin throughout the OGTT for each treatment. A violet line represents glucose and insulin levels in the control (Ctrl). Statistical significance was assessed by ANOVA. Adjusted p.values: FK506, Glucose = 9.69e-04, Insulin = 1.98e-04; FK506_Buproprion, Glucose = 0.022, Insulin =4.17e-04; FK506_naltrexone, Glucose = 4.46e-04, Insulin = 7.41e-03; sibutramine, Insulin = 0.0256). Statistically significant results have been printed on the corresponding panels. Statistical significance levels = ns P > 0.05; * P < 0.05; ** P < 0.01; *** P < 0.001 (Control: N = 12; Treatment Groups: N = 10 rats per group). B Average HOMA-IR values for each treatment group. Fasting insulin and blood glucose measurements were taken from the 0 timepoint of the OGTT test, then HOMA-IR values were calculated according to the formula: (fasting insulin [ng/mL] × fasting blood glucose [mg/dL])/405 [28]. Data represented as mean ± SEM. Statistical significance was assessed by one-way ANOVA (P.value = 0.685, GES = 0.062, n.s). C Bar plot representing the values of HOMA-β, as function of insulin secretion and β cells activity, calculated with the formula: HOMA-β = (20× fasting insulin [μU/ml])/(fasting glucose [mmol/L] –3.5 )[29]. Data was taken from the 0 timepoint in the OGTT and is represented as mean ± SEM. Statistical significance was assessed by one-way ANOVA (Adjusted P.value = 0.006, GES = 0.249, **), followed by Tukey’s post-hoc test, which indicated the Ctrl vs. sibutramine comparison as statistically significant (Adjusted P.value = 0.0243, *). Statistical significance levels = ns P > 0.05; * P < 0.05; ** P < 0.01; *** P < 0.001 (Control: N = 12; Treatment Groups: N = 10 rats per group)