Effects of porcine diazepam-binding inhibitor on insulin and glucagon secretion in vitro from the rat endocrine pancreas.

Porcine diazepam-binding inhibitor (pDBI) is a novel peptide that has been isolated from the small bowel of the pig, and that occurs also in the islet D-cells. We have studied its effects on hormone release in vitro from the endocrine pancreas of the rat. In isolated islets, pDBI (10(-9)-10(-6)M) did not affect basal insulin release at 3.3 mM glucose, whereas stimulated release at 8.3 mM glucose was dose-dependently suppressed by 32-69% (P less than 0.01). Furthermore, insulin secretion stimulated by either 16.7 mM glucose or 1 mM IBMX (3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine) or 1 micrograms/ml glibenclamide was suppressed by pDBI at 10(-8) M (by 28-30%, P less than 0.05) and 10(-7) M (by 43-47%, P less than 0.01). In contrast, islet insulin secretion induced by 20 mM arginine was unaffected by these concentrations of pDBI. In the perfused rat pancreas, pDBI (10(-8) M) enhanced by 30% (P less than 0.05) the first phase (0-5 min) of arginine-stimulated insulin release, whereas the second phase (5-20 min) was unchanged. Moreover, pDBI suppressed by 28% (P less than 0.05) the second phase of arginine-induced glucagon release. Arginine-induced somatostatin release was not significantly affected by the peptide. Since pDBI immunoreactivity has been localized also to islet D-cells, the present results suggest that pDBI may act as a local modulator of islet hormone release.     

Glucose stimulates and potentiates islet amyloid polypeptide secretion by the B-cell.

Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) has been shown to be actively secreted by the pancreatic B-cell along with insulin. To determine whether the modulation of B-cell IAPP secretion is similar to that of insulin, we assessed IAPP release in response to glucose at 4 different concentrations (1.67, 5.5, 8.8 and 16.7 mM) and to non-glucose secretagogues at different glucose concentrations in a neonatal rat islet monolayer culture preparation. Glucose alone stimulated IAPP and insulin secretion in a dose dependent fashion with maximal release for both peptides occurring at 8.8 mM. B-cell secretion of IAPP in response to arginine, isobutylmethylxanthine or both together was potentiated by increasing glucose concentrations from 1.67 to 16.7 mM. This same pattern of glucose potentiation was observed for insulin secretion. The data indicate that the pattern of peptide responses of cultured neonatal B-cells to glucose is similar for both IAPP and insulin release. Furthermore, the data suggest that glucose is capable of potentiating B-cell secretion of both IAPP and insulin.     

Effects of glucagon-like peptide 1 (7-36) amide and glucagon on amylin release from perfused rat pancreas.

The effects of glucagon-like peptide 1 (7-36) amide [GLP-1 (7-36) amide] and glucagon on the release of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP), or amylin, from the isolated perfused rat pancreas were studied. In the presence of 5.6 mM glucose, GLP-1 (7-36) amide and glucagon stimulated the release of amylin from the perfused pancreas. The infusion of GLP-1 (7-36) amide at a concentration of 10(-9) M elicited a biphasic release of amylin similar to that of insulin. The cumulative output of amylin induced by 10(-9)M GLP-1 (7-36) amide was significantly higher than that by 10(-9)M glucagon (p less than 0.01). The amylin/insulin molar ratios induced by GLP-1 (7-36) amide and glucagon were about 1% and did not differ significantly. These findings suggest that GLP-1 (7-36) amide and glucagon stimulate the release of amylin from the pancreas and that the concomitant secretion of amylin and insulin might contribute to glucose homeostasis.     

Effects of salicylate on insulin and glucagon secretion by the isolated and perfused rat pancreas

The effects of sodium salicylate, a prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor, on glucose-induced secretion of insulin and glucagon by the isolated perfused rat pancreas have been studied. Sodium salicylate inhibited both basal (2.8 mM glucose) and stimulated (16.7 mM glucose) insulin release in a dose dependent manner (1, 5 and 10 mM). This inhibition is not interpretable in terms of a simple inhibition of cyclooxygenase by sodium salicylate. Basal glucagon release was not changed by 1 mM sodium salicylate but the latter partially blocked its inhibition by 16.7 mM glucose. Higher doses of sodium salicylate (5 and 10 mM) inhibited basal glucagon secretion without affecting its response to 16.7 mM glucose. These findings suggest a predominant stimulatory action of endogenous prostaglandins on glucagon release.     

Stimulation by prostaglandin E2 of glucagon and insulin release from isolated rat pancreas.

To ascertain whether prostaglandins (PG) may play a role in the secretion of glucagon and in an attempt to elucidate the conflicting observations on the effects of PG on insulin release, the isolated intact rat pancreas was perfused with solutions containing 1.1 x 10(-9) to 1.8 x 10(-5)m PGE2. In the presence of 5.6 mM glucose significant increments in portal venous effluent levels of glucagon and insulin were observed in response to minimal concentrations of 2.8 X 10(-8) and 1.4 X 10(-7) PGE2, respectively; a dose-response relationship was evident for both hormones at higher concentrations of PGE2. When administered over 60 seconds, 1.4 X 10(-6)M PGE2 resulted in a significant increase in glucagon levels within 24 seconds and in insulin within 48 seconds. Ten-minute perfusions of 1.4 X 10(-6)M PGE2 elicited biphasic release of both islet hormones; Phase I glucagon release preceded that of insulin. Both phases of the biphasic glucagon and insulin release which occurred in response to 15-minute perfusions of 10 mM arginine were augmented by PGE2. These observations indicate that PGE2 can evoke glucagon and insulin release at concentrations close to those observed by others in the extracts of rat pancreas. We conclude that PG may be involved in the regulation of secretion of glucagon and insulin and may mediate and/or modify the pancreatic islet hormone response to other secretagogues.     

Effects of synthetic cholecystokinin analog on hormone secretion in fetal human pancreatic tissue culture]

We have investigated the effects of Pro-Met-Asp-Phe-NH2 (PMAP) on insulin and glucagon release from human fetal pancreatic microfragments in vitro. Four batches of precultured microfragments were incubated for 24 hrs in medium containing 5.5 mM glucose, 17 mM glucose, 1 microM PMAP or 1 microM PMAP plus 17 mM glucose. PMAP significantly enhanced both basal and glucose-stimulated insulin release (2.2- and 4.1-fold, respectively). Glucagon secretion was markedly inhibited by glucose (17 mM). PMAP neither affected the basal glucagon release nor potentiated the inhibitory action of glucose on glucagon release. Hence, PMAR selectively regulates insulin production in human fetal islet tissue without affecting glucagon production. Our results suggest that the substances similar or related to PMAP may prove to be of clinical value in drug correction of diabetes mellitus.     

Glucose- and concentration-dependence of vasopressin-induced hormone release by mouse pancreatic islets.

The effects of arginine-vasopressin (AVP) on hormone release by the endocrine pancreas have been studied with incubated islets from normal mice. A wide range of AVP concentrations (1 pM-100 nM) were tested in the presence of various glucose concentrations. AVP did not affect somatostatin release in a glucose-free medium but increased it in the presence of all tested glucose concentrations (3-30 mM). The lowest effective concentration was 1 mM and the effect was not yet maximal at 100 nM AVP. AVP markedly increased glucagon release in the absence of glucose. Its effect was attenuated but not abolished when glucagon release was inhibited by glucose. Surprisingly, the attenuation of the effect of AVP was stronger in 3-10 mM than in 15-30 mM glucose. The lowest effective concentration was 1 nM and the effect was not yet maximal at 100 nM AVP. AVP was ineffective on basal insulin release (0, 3 and 7 mM glucose), but potentiated the effect of 10, 15 and 30 mM glucose. The lowest effective concentration was 0.1-1 nM AVP and the maximal effect was produced by 10-100 nM AVP. The results suggest a direct action of AVP on each of the three islet cell types which display a roughly similar sensitivity to the peptide. This sensitivity is too low to make islet cells a possible target for circulating AVP under physiological conditions. On the other hand, the presence of AVP in the pancreas suggests that it might be involved in the peptidergic control of islet function.     

Effects of ghrelin on insulin and glucagon secretion: a study of isolated pancreatic islets and intact mice

We combined in vitro and in vivo methods to investigate the effects of ghrelin, a novel gastric hormone, on insulin and glucagon release. Studies of isolated mouse islets showed that ghrelin concentrations in the physiological range (0.5-3 nmol l(-1)) had no effect on glucose-stimulated insulin release, while low ghrelin concentrations (1-100 pmol l(-1)) inhibited and high (0.1 and 1 micromol l(-1)) stimulated. The insulin response to glucose was enhanced in the presence of a high ghrelin concentration (100 nmol l(-1)). Glucagon release was stimulated by ghrelin (0.1 pmol l(-1) to 1 micromol l(-1)); this effect was maintained in the presence of glucose (0-20 mmol l(-1)). In intact mice, basal plasma insulin was suppressed by 1 and 10 nmol kg(-1) of ghrelin, 2 and 6 min after i.v. injection. Ghrelin (0.2-10 nmol kg(-1) i.v.) suppressed also the glucose-stimulated insulin response and impaired the glucose tolerance (at a ghrelin dose of 3.3 nmol kg(-1)). Ghrelin (1 or 10 nmol kg(-1) i.v.) inhibited the insulin response to the phospholipase C stimulating agent carbachol and enhanced the insulin response to the phosphodiesterase inhibitor isobutyl-methylxanthine (IBMX) but did not affect the response to the membrane-depolarizing amino acid l-arginine. These observations suggest that the inhibitory effect of ghrelin on glucose-induced insulin release is in part exerted on phospholipase C pathways (and not on Ca(2+)entry), while the stimulatory effect of high doses of ghrelin depends on cyclic AMP. In contrast to the spectacular glucagon-releasing effect of ghrelin in vitro, ghrelin did not raise plasma glucagon. Carbachol, IBMX and l-arginine stimulated glucagon release. These responses were impaired by ghrelin, suggesting that it suppresses the various intracellular pathways (phospholipase C, cyclic AMP and Ca(2+)), that are activated by the glucagon secretagogues. Together these observations highlight (but do not explain) the different effects of ghrelin on glucagon release in vitro and in vivo. The results show that ghrelin has powerful effects on islet cells, suggesting that endogenous ghrelin may contribute to the physiological control of insulin and glucagon release. However, the narrow "window" of circulating ghrelin concentrations makes this doubtful.     

A K ATP channel-dependent pathway within alpha cells regulates glucagon release from both rodent and human islets of Langerhans

Glucagon, secreted from pancreatic islet alpha cells, stimulates gluconeogenesis and liver glycogen breakdown. The mechanism regulating glucagon release is debated, and variously attributed to neuronal control, paracrine control by neighbouring beta cells, or to an intrinsic glucose sensing by the alpha cells themselves. We examined hormone secretion and Ca(2+) responses of alpha and beta cells within intact rodent and human islets. Glucose-dependent suppression of glucagon release persisted when paracrine GABA or Zn(2+) signalling was blocked, but was reversed by low concentrations (1-20 muM) of the ATP-sensitive K(+) (KATP) channel opener diazoxide, which had no effect on insulin release or beta cell responses. This effect was prevented by the KATP channel blocker tolbutamide (100 muM). Higher diazoxide concentrations (>/=30 muM) decreased glucagon and insulin secretion, and alpha- and beta-cell Ca(2+) responses, in parallel. In the absence of glucose, tolbutamide at low concentrations (<1 muM) stimulated glucagon secretion, whereas high concentrations (>10 muM) were inhibitory. In the presence of a maximally inhibitory concentration of tolbutamide (0.5 mM), glucose had no additional suppressive effect. Downstream of the KATP channel, inhibition of voltage-gated Na(+) (TTX) and N-type Ca(2+) channels (omega-conotoxin), but not L-type Ca(2+) channels (nifedipine), prevented glucagon secretion. Both the N-type Ca(2+) channels and alpha-cell exocytosis were inactivated at depolarised membrane potentials. Rodent and human glucagon secretion is regulated by an alpha-cell KATP channel-dependent mechanism. We propose that elevated glucose reduces electrical activity and exocytosis via depolarisation-induced inactivation of ion channels involved in action potential firing and secretion.     

Glucose stimulates insulin release without altering cyclic AMP production or inositolphospholipid turnover in freshly obtained human insulinoma cells

Glucose, forskolin, IBMX and carbachol all stimulated insulin release from freshly obtained human insulinoma cells. In these same cells, cellular cyclic AMP levels were raised by forskolin and IBMX but not by glucose and carbachol. On the other hand, of all the insulin secretagogues examined, only carbachol stimulated the formation of 3H-inositol trisphosphate in these cells. Thus, in these insulinoma cells, glucose apparently induces insulin secretion without altering cyclic AMP production or inositolphospholipid turnover.     

Pancreatic hormone response to neuropeptide Y (NPY) perifusion in vitro

Available data on the effect of neuropeptide Y (NPY) on insulin release are conflicting and little data exist regarding the effect of NPY on glucagon secretion. The purpose of the present study, therefore, was to characterize the direct effect of NPY on the release of these pancreatic hormones and to examine the role of glucose on these interactions. Using a perifused mouse islet system, we found that NPY suppressed both basal and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Thus, basal insulin release assessed as mean integrated area under the curve/20 min (AUC/20 min) decreased from 1446 +/- 143 pg to 651 +/- 112 pg (P less than 0.05) with the addition of 2 x 10(-8) M NPY and the AUC/20 min for glucose stimulated insulin output decreased from 1973 +/- 248 pg to 1426 +/- 199 pg (P less than 0.05). In both cases, this inhibitory effect was followed after removing NPY by a stimulation of insulin secretion which was typical of a 'rebound off-response'. In contrast, NPY exerted a stimulatory effect on basal glucagon release and significantly reversed the suppressive effect of high glucose on glucagon output. The basal glucagon AUC/20 min increased from 212 +/- 103 pg to 579 +/- 316 pg (P less than 0.05), while glucagon secretion in the presence of 27.7 mM glucose increased from 75 +/- 26 pg to 255 +/- 28 pg (P less than 0.01). In conclusion, we have shown that the direct effect of NPY on the endocrine pancreas is to suppress insulin but stimulate glucagon secretion. These data are compatible with a role for NPY in the regulation of pancreatic hormone output.     

Effect of tetracaine and lidocaine on insulin release in isolated mouse pancreatic islets

The effect of tetracaine and lidocaine on insulin secretion and glucose oxidation by islets of ob/ob-mice was measured. Tetracaine, at a concentration of 1 microM to 0.1 mM, did not markedly influence the basal (3 mM glucose) insulin secretion, whereas 0.5-3.5 mM induced a marked increase. At 7 mM glucose, there was a dose-dependent increase with 0.1-2.5 mM tetracaine. Insulin release induced by 20 mM glucose was potentiated by 0.1 mM and 0.5 mM tetracaine, but this effect disappeared at 1 mM tetracaine. The stimulatory effect of 0.5-1 mM tetracaine on basal insulin release was blocked by the secretory inhibitors, adrenaline (1 microM), clonidine (1 microM) and by Ca2+-deficiency, but the stimulation by 3.5 mM tetracaine was not reduced by 1 microM clonidine or Ca2+ deficiency. Atropine (10 microM) did not affect the stimulation by 0.5 mM tetracaine at 3 mM glucose or by 0.25 mM tetracaine at 20 mM glucose. Tetracaine, at 0.1 mM, potentiated the secretory stimulation of 20 mM L-leucine, 20 mM D-mannose, or 1 microM glibenclamide. Mannoheptulose, 10 mM, abolished the combined effects of 0.1 mM tetracaine and 10 mM glucose. Lidocaine, 1-5 mM, stimulated basal insulin release, but 1 microM-1 mM of the drug did not affect glucose-induced (20 mM glucose) insulin release and 5 mM lidocaine inhibited glucose stimulation. The oxidation of 10 mM D-[U-14C]glucose was slightly enhanced by 0.1 and 1 mM tetracaine. The results indicate that tetracaine and lidocaine, at certain concentrations, can induce insulin release and that tetracaine potentiates secretion induced by other secretagogues. It is concluded that these effects may be associated with beta-cell functions related to the adrenergic receptors but probably not to cholinergic receptors.     

Glucose regulation of arginine-induced pancreatic somatostatin release from the isolated perfused rat pancreas

The effects of glucose alone, combinations of glucose with arginine or tolbutamide and either arginine or tolbutamide alone, on somatostatin, insulin, and glucagon secretion were investigated using the isolated perfused rat pancreas. When glucose alone was raised in graded increments at 15-min intervals from an initial concentration of 0 mM to a maximum of 16.7 mM, somatostatin as well as insulin in the perfusate increased with the glucose, while glucagon decreased. The similarity of the glucose stimulated somatostatin and insulin release was especially evident when the perfusate glucose was increased from an initial dose of 4.4 mM rather than 0 mM to 8.8 mM or 16.7 mM. In addition, glucose at concentrations varying from 4.4 mM to 11 mM dose-dependently enhanced arginine-induced somatostatin and insulin release and suppressed glucagon release dose-dependently as before. Arginine in the absence of glucose was not capable of stimulating somatostatin secretion whereas tolbutamide, in contrast, was capable of stimulating somatostatin secretion even in the absence of glucose.     

Cyclic AMP-dependent protein phosphorylation and insulin secretion in intact islets of Langerhans.

Effects on insulin release, cyclic AMP content and protein phosphorylation of agents modifying cyclic AMP levels have been tested in intact rat islets of Langerhans. Insulin release induced by glucose was potentiated by dibutyryl cyclic AMP, glucagon, cholera toxin and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX); the calmodulin antagonist trifluoperazine reversed these potentiatory effects. Inhibition by trifluoperazine of IBMX-potentiated release was, however, confined to concentrations of IBMX below 50 microM; higher concentrations, up to 1 mM, were resistant to inhibition by trifluoperazine. IBMX-potentiated insulin release was also inhibited by 2-deoxyadenosine, an inhibitor of adenylate cyclase. In the absence of glucose, IBMX at concentrations up to 1 mM did not stimulate insulin release and in the presence of 3.3 mM-glucose IBMX was effective only at a concentration of 1 mM; under the latter conditions trifluoperazine again did not inhibit insulin secretion. The maximum effect on insulin release was achieved with 25 microM-IBMX. Islet [cyclic AMP] was increased by IBMX, with the maximum rise occurring with 100 microM-IBMX. The increase in [cyclic AMP] elicited by IBMX was more rapid than that induced by cholera toxin. Trifluoperazine did not significantly affect islet cyclic AMP levels under any of the conditions tested. When islets were incubated with [32P]Pi, radioactivity was incorporated into islet ATP predominantly in the gamma-position. The rate of equilibration of label was dependent on medium Pi and glucose concentration and at optimal concentrations of these 100% equilibration of internal [32P]ATP with external [32P]Pi required a period of 3h. Radioactivity was incorporated into islet protein and, in response to an increase in islet [cyclic AMP], the major effect was on a protein of Mr 15 000 on sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide gels. The extent of phosphorylation of the Mr-15 000 protein was correlated with the level of cyclic AMP: phosphorylation in response to IBMX was inhibited by 2-deoxyadenosine but not by trifluoperazine. Fractionation of islets suggested that the Mr-15 000 protein was of nuclear origin: the protein co-migrated with histone H3 on acetic acid/urea/Triton gels. In the islet cytosol a number of proteins were phosphorylated in response to elevation of islet [cyclic AMP]: the major species had Mr values of 18 000, 25 000, 34 000, 38 000 and 48 000. Culture of islets with IBMX increased the rate of [3H]-thymidine incorporation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Investigations on isolated islets of langerhans in vitro. 16.Modification of the glucose-dependent inhibition of glucagon secretion.

Investigation of glucagon secretion in isolated Wistar rat islets was carried out to elucidate further the regulatory function of glucose and arginine on pancreatic A-cells. The suppressive effect of D-glucose could also be demonstrated with L-glucose, D-mannose, D-fructose, D-galactose, D-glyceraldehyde and DL-dihydroxyacetone, but not in the presence of 3-O-methylglucose or mannitol. Sugars other than D-glucose inhibited glucagon secretion only at much higher concentrations than those at which D-glucose was effective. Furthermore, although 7.5 mM D-glucose up to 80% inhibition, the effects of other sugars appeared to level off at only 50--60% inhibition. The inhibitory action of D-glucose or D-glyceraldedyde on glucagon secretion could not be overcome by L-arginine, but 3-O-methylglucose, mannoheptulose, 2-deoxy-D-glucose, iodoacetamide, theophylline, epinephrine and acetylcholine were effective. The insulin secretion in response to glucose was inhibited by the metabolic inhibitors used, whereas the B-cell response in the presence of glyceraldehyde was diminished by iodoacetamide only. Like D-glucose, a variety of other sugars markedly reduced the stimulatory effect of L-arginine in glucagon release. The results show that the suppression of glucagon secretion is not specific for D-glucose and not strongly connected on a stimulated insulin secretion.     

Effect of glucagon antiserum on somatostatin,glucagon and insulin release from the isolated perfused rat pancreas

In order to elucidate the effect of glucagon antiserum on the endocrine pancreas, the release of somatostatin, glucagon, and insulin from the isolated perfused rat pancreas was studied following the infusion of arginine both with and without pretreatment by glucagon antiserum. Various concentrations of arginine in the presence of 5.5 mM glucose stimulated both somatostatin and glucagon secretion. However, the responses of somatostatin and glucagon were different at different doses of arginine. The infusion of glucagon antiserum strongly stimulated basal secretion in the perfusate total glucagon (free + antibody bound glucagon) and also enhanced its response to arginine, but free glucagon was undetectable in the perfusate during the infusion. On the other hand, the glucagon antiserum had no significant effect on either insulin or somatostatin secretion. Moreover, electron microscopic study revealed degrannulation and vacuolization in the cytoplasm of the A cells after exposure to glucagon antiserum, suggesting a hypersecretion of glucagon, but no significant change was found in the B cells or the D cells. We conclude that in a single pass perfusion system glucagon antiserum does not affect somatostatin or insulin secretion, although it enhances glucagon secretion.     

Inhibition of CCK or carbachol-stimulated amylase release by nicotine

This study was undertaken to investigate the mechanisms of action of nicotine on receptor mediated enzyme secretion in isolated rat pancreatic acini. Acinar cells were isolated from untreated and nicotine treated rats by collagenase digestion and differential centrifugation. Cells from the untreated animals were incubated with either varying concentrations of nicotine (range 10 microM to 30 mM) or with a fixed dose of 10 mM nicotine with varying concentrations of carbachol(10nM to 100 microM). Cells from the nicotine treated animals(16 weeks in drinking water) were incubated with either a fixed dose of CCK-8(10(-10) M) or carbachol(10(-5) M). All incubations were conducted at 37 C for 30 min. Amylase released in the media was measured by spectrophotometry. In pancreatic acinar cells isolated from control rats, amylase release stimulated by carbachol was inhibited by nicotine. Acinar cells isolated from rats treated with nicotine at nicotine concentrations of 1.23 mM also showed significant inhibition of amylase release in response to CCK-8 and carbachol compared to their identical controls. Nicotine induced inhibition curves of amylase release stimulated by carbachol were non-parallel suggesting that the effect of nicotine on acinar cells is regulated by mechanisms other than carbachol receptors. Nicotine may have a direct inhibitory effect on the intracellular mechanisms of pancreatic enzyme secretion. We conclude that the mechanism by which nicotine inhibits pancreatic enzyme secretion is complex.     

Desensitization of the pancreatic beta-cell: effects of sustained physiological hyperglycemia and potassium

The impact of modest but prolonged (3 h) exposure to high physiological glucose concentrations and hyperkalemia on the insulin secretory and phospholipase C (PLC) responses of rat pancreatic islets was determined. In acute studies, glucose (5-20 mM) caused a dose-dependent increase in secretion with maximal release rates 25-fold above basal secretion. When measured after 3 h of exposure to 5-10 mM glucose, subsequent stimulation of islets with 10-20 mM glucose during a dynamic perifusion resulted in dose-dependent decrements in secretion and PLC activation. Acute hyperkalemia (15-30 mM) stimulated calcium-dependent increases in both insulin secretion and PLC activation; however, prolonged hyperkalemia resulted in a biochemical and secretory lesion similar to that induced by sustained modest hyperglycemia. Glucose- (8 mM) desensitized islets retained significant sensitivity to stimulation by either carbachol or glucagon-like peptide-1. These findings emphasize the vulnerability of the beta-cell to even moderate sustained hyperglycemia and provide a biochemical rationale for achieving tight glucose control in diabetic patients. They also suggest that PLC activation plays a critically important role in the physiological regulation of glucose-induced secretion and in the desensitization of release that follows chronic hyperglycemia or hyperkalemia.     

Isolated mouse islets respond to glucose with an initial peak of glucagon release followed by pulses of insulin and somatostatin in antisynchrony with glucagon

Recent studies of isolated human islets have shown that glucose induces hormone release with repetitive pulses of insulin and somatostatin in antisynchrony with those of glucagon. Since the mouse is the most important animal model we studied the temporal relation between hormones released from mouse islets. Batches of 5-10 islets were perifused and the hormones measured with radioimmunoassay in 30s fractions. At 3mM glucose, hormone secretion was stable with no detectable pulses of glucagon, insulin or somatostatin. Increase of glucose to 20mM resulted in an early secretory phase with a glucagon peak followed by peaks of insulin and somatostatin. Subsequent hormone secretion was pulsatile with a periodicity of 5min. Cross-correlation analyses showed that the glucagon pulses were antisynchronous to those of insulin and somatostatin. In contrast to the marked stimulation of insulin and somatostatin secretion, the pulsatility resulted in inhibition of overall glucagon release. The cytoarchitecture of mouse islets differs from that of human islets, which may affect the interactions between the hormone-producing cells. Although indicating that paracrine regulation is important for the characteristic patterns of pulsatile hormone secretion, the mouse data mimic those of human islets with more than 20-fold variations of the insulin/glucagon ratio. The data indicate that the mouse serves as an appropriate animal model for studying the temporal relation between the islet hormones controlling glucose production in the liver.     

Arachidonic acid metabolism in isolated pancreatic islets. VI. Carbohydrate insulin secretagogues must be metabolized to induce eicosanoid release.

Pancreatic islets stimulated with D-glucose are known to liberate arachidonic acid from membrane phospholipids and release prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). A component of the eicosanoid release induced by D-glucose has been demonstrated to occur without calcium influx and must be triggered by other coupling mechanisms. In this study, we have attempted to identify mechanisms other than calcium influx which might couple D-glucose stimulation to hydrolysis of arachidonate from membrane phospholipids in islet cells. We have found that occupancy of the beta cell plasma membrane D-glucose transporter is insufficient and that D-glucose metabolism is required to induce islet PGE2 release because 3-O-methylglucose fails to induce and mannoheptulose prevents PGE2 release otherwise induced by 17 mM D-glucose. The carbohydrate insulin secretagogues mannose and D-glyceraldehyde have also been found to induce islet PGE2 release, but the non-secretagogue carbohydrates L-glucose and lactate do not. Carbohydrate secretagogues are known to be metabolized to yield ATP and induce depolarization of the beta cell plasma membrane. We have found that depolarization by 40 mM KCl induces PGE2 release only in the presence and not in the absence of extracellular calcium, but exogenous ATP induces islet PGE2 release with or without extracellular calcium. Carbachol is demonstrated here to interact synergistically with increasing concentrations of glucose to amplify PGE2 release and insulin secretion. Pertussis toxin treatment is shown here not to prevent PGE2 release induced by glucose or carbachol but to increase the basal rate of PGE2 release and the islet cyclic AMP content. Theophylline (10 mM) exerts similar effects. Eicosanoid release in pancreatic islets can thus be activated by multiple pathways including muscarinic receptor occupancy, calcium influx, increasing cAMP content, and a metabolic signal derived from nutrient secretagogues, such as ATP.