Effects of prostacyclin and its stable analog, iloprost, upon insulin secretion in isolated pancreatic islets

We investigated the effects of prostacylin in three concentrations of 2.7 nM, 53.8 nM and 267 nM on insulin release by isolated rat islets. The lowest concentration produced no significant effects. The middle concentration led to stimulation followed by inhibition of the reaction studied, while the highest concentration strongly depressed insulin release. These effects of prostacyclin appeared to be specified, because they were mimicked by its stable analog, iloprost, but not by its metabolite, 6-keto-PGF_1α. The results suggest that prostacyclin generated in islets might exert locally an influencing upon insulin release.