The role of arginine vasopressin in diabetes-associated increase in glucagon secretion

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of arginine vasopressin (AVP) on glucagon secretion in both normal and diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by intravenous administration of 50 mg/kg streptozotocin, 14 days before pancreatic perfusion. Diabetic rats were maintained on insulin replacement therapy until approximately 48 h before the perfusion experiments. Both glucagon and AVP were determined in the effluent of the perfused pancreas using RIA. Both normal and diabetic rats had similar basal glucagon secretion. AVP (3-30 pM) increased glucagon secretion from both normal and diabetic rats in a concentration-dependent manner. However, diabetic subjects were more sensitive to AVP administration than normal subjects with regard to glucagon secretion. By comparison of the areas under the curves, AVP-induced glucagon secretion in diabetic rats was approximately 2-fold that of the normal rats. In addition, immunoreactive AVP was detected in the effluent of the perfused pancreas, and diabetic rats had 70% higher AVP concentrations in the pancreatic effluent than normal rats. We conclude that AVP is secreted from the pancreas and diabetic rats can secrete more AVP from the pancreas than normal rats. Consequently, AVP may have a greater impact on glucagon secretion in diabetic subjects than normal ones. AVP might play an important role in the hypersecretion of glucagon in diabetic subjects.