Adenosine release from isolated rat adipocytes: influence of fat cell concentration and cell size

The release of adenosine by isolated rat adipocytes into the incubation medium was studied in relation to fat cell size and concentration. Incubations were carried out for 60 min at 37 degrees C in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate-albumin medium containing 6 mM glucose. 2'-Deoxycoformycin was added to inhibit endogenous adenosine deaminase activity (maximal suppression was achieved at 0.8 microM concentration of the inhibitor). The data show that (a) the amount of adenosine released into the medium was similar for the first and second 30-min incubation periods; (b) increasing adipocyte concentration markedly inhibited adenosine release; and (c) large fat cells (volume greater than 300 pl) released significantly more adenosine (per fat cell) into the medium than smaller fat cells (volume less than 180 pl) when incubated at concentrations of less than or equal to 350,000 cells/ml. Above this cell concentration, differences between adenosine release and cell size were not noted. Adenosine release by isolated rat adipocytes appears to be a precisely regulated process which is exquisitly sensitive to the number of fat cells in the incubation medium and, to a certain extent, to the adipocyte size.     

Catecholamine-induced insulin resistance of glucose transport in isolated rat adipocytes.

The effects of pre-incubation with isoprenaline and noradrenaline on insulin binding and insulin stimulation of D-glucose transport in isolated rat adipocytes are reported. (1) Pre-incubation of the cells with isoprenaline (0.1-10 microM) in Krebs-Ringer-Hepes [4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazine-ethanesulphonic acid] buffer (30 min, 37 degrees C) at D-glucose concentrations of 16 mM, in which normal ATP levels were maintained, caused a rightward-shift in sensitivity of D-glucose transport to insulin stimulation by 50% and a decrease in maximal responsiveness by 30% (2) [A14-125I]insulin binding was reduced significantly by 35% at insulin concentrations less than 100 mu-units/ml and Scatchard analysis showed that this consisted mainly of a decrease in high-affinity binding. (3) Pre-incubation with catecholamines under the same conditions but at low glucose concentrations (0-5 mM) caused a fall in intracellular ATP levels of 65 and 45% respectively. (4) The fall in ATP additionally lowered insulin binding by 50% at all insulin concentrations and a parallel shift of the binding curves in the Scatchard plot showed that this was due to a decrease in the number of receptors. (5) At low and high ATP concentrations the insulin stimulation of D-glucose transport was inhibited to a similar extent. (6) Pre-incubation with catecholamines thus inhibited insulin stimulation of D-glucose transport in rat adipocytes mainly by a decrease in high-affinity binding of insulin, which was not mediated by low ATP levels. This mechanism may play a role in the pathogenesis of catecholamine-induced insulin resistance in vivo.     

Effect of purified phospholipases on glucose transport, insulin binding, and insulin action in isolated rat adipocytes

The influence of alterations in phospholipid structure by phospholipase treatment on insulin action and glucose transport in rat adipocytes was studied. It appeared that phospholipase A2 from bee venom caused a breakdown of approximately 50% of phosphotidylcholine without lysis of the cells. Because of this treatment, insulin binding was increased, resulting in an increased sensitivity of glucose transport towards lower insulin concentrations. Moreover, an increased affinity of the transport system for 2-deoxyglucose was observed. Phospholipase C from Clostridium welchii caused complete lysis of adipocytes. Phospholipase A2 from Crotalus adamenteus was without effect.     

Sulphonylureas-induced increase in insulin binding and glucose metabolism by isolated rat adipocytes

The effects of oral hypoglycaemic drugs, SPC-703 (n-/p-toluenesulphonyl/-5-methyl-2-pirazoline-1-carbonami de) and tolbutamide on insulin binding and glucose metabolism by isolated adipocytes were studied. After 10 days of administration of both sulphonylurea derivatives, no differences were observed in insulin concentration between both experimental and the control groups of animals, despite a significant fall in blood glucose level. SPC-703 and tolbutamide in concentrations of 1 mM added in vitro to the suspension of adipocytes had no effect on insulin binding or on basal and insulin simulated glucose metabolism. Daily administration of 300 mg/kg body weight of SPC-703 or tolbutamide for 10 days resulted in 48% and 34% increase of specific binding of insulin by adipocytes, respectively. From the Scatchard plot analysis we noted that the increase of binding resulted from increased affinity of insulin receptors for hormone. Simultaneous increase in basal and insulin stimulated glucose metabolism by adipocytes, as measured by 14CO2 production and 14C incorporation into cellular lipids, was observed. The results indicate that hypoglycaemic action of sulphonylureas may be explained by increased affinity of insulin receptors and the stimulating action of these compounds on peripheral glucose metabolism.     

Cyclic AMP modulates insulin binding and induces post-receptor insulin resistance of glucose transport in isolated rat adipocytes

The effect of cAMP on insulin binding and insulin stimulation of glucose transport was investigated in isolated rat adipocytes. Preincubation for 30 min in medium containing 16 mmol/l glucose and either db-cAMP or bromo-cAMP in concentrations of 10(-4)-10(-3) M inhibited high affinity binding of insulin by 15 to 30% and glucose transport by 30 to 50%. Preincubation with IBMX (10(-4)-10(-3) M) reduced insulin binding by 25% and glucose transport by 70%. Closer analysis of these data indicated that preincubation with these compounds caused not only a decrease in insulin binding but also a post-receptor resistance. High intracellular cyclic AMP-levels seem therefore to induce insulin resistance at both receptor and post-receptor levels.     

Effects of decavanadate and insulin enhancing vanadium compounds on glucose uptake in isolated rat adipocytes

The effects of different vanadium compounds namely pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylatedioxovanadium(V) (V5-dipic), bis(maltolato) oxovanadium(IV) (BMOV) and amavadine, and oligovanadates namely metavanadate and decavanadate were analysed on basal and insulin stimulated glucose uptake in rat adipocytes. Decavanadate (50 μM), manifest a higher increases (6-fold) on glucose uptake compared with basal, followed by BMOV (1 mM) and metavanadate (1 mM) solutions (3-fold) whereas V5 dipic and amavadine had no effect. Decavanadate (100 μM) also shows the highest insulin like activity when compared with the others compounds studied. In the presence of insulin (10 nM), only decavanadate increases (50%) the glucose uptake when compared with insulin stimulated glucose uptake whereas BMOV and metavanadate, had no effect and V5 dipic and amavadine prevent the stimulation to about half of the basal value. Decavanadate is also able to reduce or eradicate the suppressor effect caused by dexamethasone on glucose uptake at the level of the adipocytes. Altogether, vanadium compounds and oligovanadates with several structures and coordination spheres reveal different effects on glucose uptake in rat primary adipocytes.     

Mechanisms of insulin degradation by isolated rat adipocytes

Summary We have examined some of the chemical and biological characteristics of the insulin-derived cell-associated radioactivity following incubation of isolated adipocytes with ¹²⁵I-insulin (10^–10 M) for one hour at 37 °C S ephadex G-50 chromatography of the cell-associated radioactivity demonstrated three peaks: peak I eluted with the void volume and consisted of large molecular weight material; peak II comigrated with 1251-insulin; and peak III consisted of small molecular weight degradation products (probably iodotyrosine). When the insulin peak (peak II) was divided into fourths, it was found that the binding and biologic activity of this material was not homogenous; thus, binding and biologic activity (relative to native insulin) fell markedly from the earliest to the latest eluting fractions of this peak. Furthermore, when the entire peak 11 material was applied to DEAE-Sephacel and eluted with a 0.01–0.2 M NaCl gradient, three distinct peaks were observed. These peaks were all 90% TCA precipitable, whereas the ability of the latter two eluting peaks to precipitate with anti-insulin antiserum was markedly reduced. When similar experiments were performed with chloroquine-treated cells, a large increase in cell-associated radioactivity was observed, and Sephadex G-50 chromatography demonstrated that this increase was entirely confined to peaks I and II. When the insulin peak (peak II) was divided into fourths, it was found that chloroquine markedly inhibited the decreased binding and biologic activity, from the earliest to the latest eluting fraction of this peak. Furthermore, when the peak II material (Sephadex G-50) from chloroquine-treated cells was chromatographed on DEAE-Sephacel, this material eluted in a single peak which was 95% TCA precipitable and 106% precipitable by anti-insulin antiserum. In conclusion, these studies demonstrate that: 1) intermediate insulin-derived products with reduced binding and biologic activity are generated in the process of cellular insulin degradation, and 2) the formation of these intermediate products is mediated by a chloroquine-sensitive pathway.     

Glucose oxidation,glucose transport and insulin binding in isolated rat epididymal adipocytes in the presence of anesthetics

Insulin binding and glucose oxidation were measured in isolated rat adipocytes in the presence of several anesthetics; ethanol, n-octanol, pentobarbital, chlorpromazine and tetracaine. Ethanol and chlorpromazine, at anesthetic and pentobarbitol at sub-anesthetic concentrations are inhibitory to both basal and insulin stimulated rates of glucose oxidation. At all concentrations of ethanol, pentobarbital or chlorpromazine tested binding of insulin is not affected. Since anesthetics may alter membrane fluidity, it is suggested that an anesthetic-induced increase in membrane fluidity beyond that which occurs at 37°C is detrimental to glucose oxidation. Of the 5 anesthetics examined, only chlorpromazine (10 μM or less) and tetracaine (500 μM) stimulate glucose oxidation. These two agents are known to bind to a cell's cytoskeletal system; the binding of chlorpromazine to microtubules is entropy driven. The temperature and concentration dependence of chlorpromazine stimulation of glucose oxidation (transport) are consistent with this form of binding. It is proposed that chlorpromazine binds to the cytoskeletal system of the adipocyte and that this system is normally restrictive to the motion of membrane proteins. Disruption of the cytoskeletal system by chlorpromazine or tetracaine would increase the frequency of insulin-receptor and glucose-carrier contact. Activation of glucose transport could ensue.     

Augmentation of basal insulin release from rat islets by preexposure to a high concentration of glucose

We have found that preexposure to an elevated concentration of glucose reversibly induces an enhancement of basal insulin release from rat pancreatic islets dependent on glucose metabolism. This basal insulin release augmented by priming was not suppressed by reduction of the intracellular ATP or Ca(2+) concentration, because even in the absence of ATP at low Ca(2+), the augmentation was not abolished from primed electrically permeabilized islets. Moreover, it was not inhibited by an alpha-adrenergic antagonist, clonidine. A threshold level of GTP is required to induce these effects, because together with adenine, mycophenolic acid, a cytosolic GTP synthesis inhibitor, completely abolished the enhancement of basal insulin release due to the glucose-induced priming without affecting the glucose-induced increment in ATP content and ATP-to-ADP ratio. In addition, a GDP analog significantly suppressed the enhanced insulin release due to priming from permeabilized islets in the absence of ATP at low Ca(2+), suggesting that the GTP-sensitive site may play a role in the augmentation of basal insulin release due to the glucose-induced priming effect.     

Effects of glucose on 45Ca2+ outflow, cytosolic Ca2+ concentration and insulin release from freshly isolated and cultured adult rat islets

The present study aimed at comparing the effects of glucose on ionic and secretory events in freshly isolated and 5-7 day cultured rat pancreatic islets. The capacity of glucose to provoke insulin release was severely reduced in islets maintained in culture. Whether in freshly isolated or cultured islets, glucose provoked a marked and sustained decrease in 45Ca2+ outflow from islets deprived of extracellular Ca2+. In the presence of extracellular Ca2+ throughout, the magnitude of the glucose-induced secondary rise in 45Ca2+ outflow was reduced in cultured islets. Glucose provoked a weaker increase in [Ca2+]i in islet cells obtained from cultured islets than in islet cells dissociated from freshly isolated pancreatic islets. On the other hand, the stimulatory effect of carbamylcholine on 45Ca2+ outflow was unaffected by tissue culture. Lastly, in islet cells obtained from cultured islets, the increase in [Ca2+]i evoked by K+ depolarization averaged half of that observed in control experiments. These results indicate that the reduced secretory potential of glucose in cultured pancreatic islets can be ascribed to the inability of the nutrient secretagogue to provoke a suitable increase in Ca2+ influx.     

Insulin and insulin mutants stimulate glucose uptake in rat adipocytes

A simple method to determine thein vitro biological activity of insulin by measuring glucose uptake in the rat adipocytes is presented here. In the presence of insulin, the glucose uptake is 5–6 times more than the basal control. And the uptake of D-[3-³H]-glucose is linear as the logarithm of insulin concentration from 0.2 ώg/L to 1.0 ώg/L. Glucose and 3-O-methyl-glucose inhibit D-[3-³H]-glucose uptake into adipocytes. By this method, thein vitro biological activity of [B₂-Lys]-insulin and [B₃-Lys]-insulin was measured to be 61.6% and 154% respectively, relative to that of insulin.     

Protein phosphorylation in a myogenic cell line: effects of insulin, epinephrine and glucose

Protein phosphorylation was studied in L6 cultured muscle cells by incubating cells with Na 32Pi and subsequently exposing them to external agents. L6 cells readily incorporated 32Pi into a number of peptides approaching steady-state incorporation by 2 h. Insulin stimulated the phosphorylation of one peptide of molecular mass 29,000 daltons by 37% with an ED50 of 3 mU/ml. This peptide was located in the high-speed pellet (105,000 g 60 min) which is consistent with an S6 ribosomal protein. Epinephrine (10(-5) M) led to only a modestly stimulated (less than 14%) phosphorylation of three peptides of molecular masses 39,000, 29,000 and 21,000 daltons. Glucose (5-50 mM) stimulated the phosphorylation of one peptide of molecular mass 19,000 daltons by 24%.     

Insulin and insulin mutants stimulate glucose uptake in rat adipocytes

A simple method to determine the in vitro biological activity of insulin by measuring glucose uptake in the rat adipocytes is presented here. In the presence of insulin, the glucose uptake is 5-6 times more than the basal control. And the uptake of D-[3-3H]-glucose is linear as the logarithm of insulin concentration from 0.2 μg/L to 1.0 μg/L. Glucose and 3-O-methyl-glucose inhibit D-[3-3H]-glucose uptake into adipocytes. By this method, the in vitro biological activity of [B2-Lys]-insulin and [B3-Lys]-insulin was measured to be 61.6% and 154% respectively, relative to that of insulin.     

Internalization of insulin and its receptor in the isolated rat adipose cell: Time-course and insulin concentration dependency

The time-course and insulin concentration dependency of internalization of insulin and its receptor have been examined in isolated rat adipose cells at 37°C. The internalization of insulin was assessed by examining the subcellular distribution of cell-associated [¹²⁵I]insulin among plasma membrane, and high-density (endoplasmic reticulum-enriched) and low-density (Golgi-enriched) microsomal membrane fractions prepared by differential ultracentrifugation. The distribution of receptors was measured by the steady-state exchange binding of fresh [¹²⁵I]insulin to these same membrane fractions. At 37°C, insulin binding to intact cells is accompanied initially by the rapid appearance of intact insulin in the plasma membrane fraction, and subsequently, by its rapid appearance in both the high-density and low-density microsomal membrane fractions. An apparent steady-state distribution of insulin per mg of membrane protein among these subcellular fractions is achieved within 30 min in a ratio of 1:1.54:0.80, respectively. Concomitantly, insulin binding to intact cells is associated with the rapid disappearance of approx. 30% of the insulin receptors initially present in the plasma membrane fraction and appearance of 20–30% of those lost in the low-density microsomal membrane fraction. However, the number of receptors in the high-density microsomal membrane fraction does not change. This redistribution of receptors also appears to reach a steady-state within 30 min. Both processes are insulin concentration-dependent, correlating with receptor occupancy in the intact cell, and are partially inhibited at 16°C. While the steady-state subcellular distributions of insulin and its receptor do not correlate with that of acid phosphatase, chloroquine markedly increases the levels of insulin associated with all three membrane fractions in apparent proportion to the distribution of this lysosomal marker enzyme activity, without more than marginally potentiating insulin's effects on the distribution of receptors. These results demonstrate that insulin, initially bound to the plasma membrane of the isolated rat adipose cell, is rapidly translocated by a receptor-mediated process into at least two intracellular compartments associated with the cell's high- and low-density microsomes. Furthermore, insulin simultaneously induces the translocation of its own receptor from the plasma membrane into the latter compartment. These translocations appear to represent the internalization and partial dissociation of the insulin-receptor complex through insulin-induced receptor cycling.     

In vivo and in vitro effect of p-chlorophenoxyisobutyrate on insulin binding and glucose transport in isolated rat adipocytes

We studied the in vivo and in vitro effect of p-chlorophenoxyisobutyrate (CPIB) on insulin binding and glucose transport in isolated rat adipocytes. In the in vitro study, adipocytes were incubated with 1mM of CPIB for 2 h at 37 degrees C, pH 7.4, and then insulin binding (37 degrees C, 60 min) and 3-0-methylglucose transport (37 degrees C, 2s) were measured. Incubation with CPIB did not affect either insulin binding or glucose transport in the cells. The addition of insulin (10 ng/ml) with CPIB to the incubation media also did not affect the following insulin binding and glucose transport. In the in vivo study, rats were fed a high sucrose-diet containing 0.25% CPIB for 7 days. Serum cholesterol, plasma free fatty acid, and insulin levels were significantly decreased in the CPIB-treated rats. The treated rats demonstrated an almost 2 fold increased maximal binding capacity for insulin (189,000 sites/cell for treated vs 123,000 sites/cell for control cells). Basal glucose transport (glucose transport in the absence of insulin) significantly decreased in the CPIB-treated rats, although insulin-stimulated glucose transport was comparable in treated and control cells. Thus, CPIB might have no direct effect on glucose transport and insulin binding, as determined by the in vitro studies. Furthermore, a relatively short-term in vivo treatment with CPIB, such as 7 days, did not stimulate glucose transport.     

Effects of glucose,exogenous insulin,and carbachol on C-peptide and insulin secretion from isolated perifused rat islets

Isolated perifused rat islets were stimulated with glucose, exogenous insulin, or carbachol. C-peptide and, where possible, insulin secretory rates were measured. Glucose (8-10 mm) induced dose-dependent and kinetically similar patterns of C-peptide and insulin secretion. The addition of 100 nm bovine insulin had no effect on C-peptide release in response to 8-10 mm glucose stimulation. The addition of 100 nm bovine insulin or 500 nm human insulin together with 3 mm glucose had no stimulatory effect on C-peptide secretion rates from perifused rat islets. Stimulation with carbachol plus 7 mm glucose enhanced both C-peptide and insulin secretion, and the further addition of 100 nm bovine insulin had no inhibitory effect on C-peptide secretory rates under this condition. Perifusion studies using pharmacologic inhibitors (genistein and wortmannin) of the kinases thought to be involved in insulin signaling potentiated 10 mm glucose-induced secretion. The results support the following conclusions. 1) C-peptide release rates accurately reflect insulin secretion rates from collagenase-isolated, perifused rat islets. 2) Exogenously added bovine insulin exerts no inhibitory effect on release to several agonists including glucose. 3) In the presence of 3 mm glucose, exogenously added bovine or human insulin do not stimulate endogenous insulin secretion.