The pseudotetrasaccharide acarbose inhibits pancreatic islet glucan-1,4-alpha-glucosidase activity in parallel with a suppressive action on glucose-induced insulin release

The pseudotetrasaccharide acarbose, previously known as a potent inhibitor of intestinal alpha-glucoside hydrolases, was investigated with regard to its influence on islet lysosomal enzyme activities and the insulin secretory processes. We observed that acarbose was a potent inhibitor of mouse islet lysosomal acid glucan-1,4-alpha-glucosidase activity, EC50 approximately 5 mumol/l, as well as of acid alpha-glucosidase activity. In contrast, acarbose did not influence other lysosomal enzyme activities such as acid phosphatase and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase. Neutral alpha-glucosidase (endoplasmic reticulum) was only moderately inhibited in homogenate and was unaffected in intact islets. Incubation of isolated mouse islets with acarbose revealed that the pseudotetrasaccharide was a strong inhibitor of glucose-induced insulin secretion, EC50 approximately 500 nmol/l, and a significant inhibition was already observed at a concentration of acarbose as low as 100 nmol/l. The acarbose analogue maltotetrose did not influence either glucose-induced insulin release or islet lysosomal enzyme activities. Further, acarbose as well as two other alpha-glucoside hydrolase inhibitors, the deoxynojirimycin derivatives miglitol and emiglitate, did not affect islet glucose oxidation at low or high glucose levels. Acarbose also inhibited insulin release induced by the sulfonylurea glibenclamide, whereas insulin secretion stimulated by the cholinergic muscarinic agonist carbachol or the phosphodiesterase inhibitor isobutylmethylxanthine was unaffected by the drug. Moreover, complementary in vivo experiments showed that pretreatment of mice with acarbose to allow for endocytosis of the compound markedly suppressed the insulin secretory response to an intravenous glucose load.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Influence of nitric oxide synthase inhibition, nitric oxide and hydroperoxide on insulin release induced by various secretagogues

1. Recent studies have suggested that the generation of nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) by islet NO synthase and monoamine oxidase, respectively, may have a regulatory influence on insulin secretory processes. We have investigated the pattern of insulin release from isolated islets of Langerhans in the presence of various pharmacological agents known to perturb the intracellular levels of NO and the oxidation state of SH-groups. 2. The NO synthase inhibitor, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) dose-dependently increased L-arginine-induced insulin release. D-Arginine did not influence L-arginine-induced insulin secretion. However, D-NAME which reportedly has no inhibitory action on NO synthase, modestly increased L-arginine-induced insulin release, but was less effective than L-NAME. High concentrations (10 mM) of D-arginine as well as L-NAME and D-NAME could enhance basal insulin release. 3. The intracellular NO donor, hydroxylamine, dose-dependently inhibited insulin secretion induced by L-arginine and L-arginine+L-NAME. 4. Glucose-induced insulin release was increased by NO synthase inhibition (L-NAME) and inhibited by the intracellular NO donor, hydroxylamine. Sydnonimine-1 (SIN-1), an extracellular donor of NO and superoxide, induced a modest suppression of glucose-stimulated insulin release. SIN-1 did not influence insulin secretion induced by L-arginine or the adenylate cyclase activator, forskolin. 5. The intracellular 'hydroperoxide donor' tert-butylhydroperoxide in the concentration range of 0.03-3 mM inhibited insulin release stimulated by the nutrient secretagogues glucose and L-arginine. Low concentrations (0.03-30 microM) of tert-butylhydroperoxide, however enhanced insulin secretion induced by the phosphodiesterase inhibitor isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX). 6. Islet guanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic GMP) content was not influenced by 10 mML-arginine or tert-butylhydroperoxide at 3 or 300 micro M but was markedly increased (14 fold) by a high hydroxylamine concentration (300 micro M). In contrast, islet adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclicAMP) content was increased (3 fold) by L-arginine (10 mM) and (2 fold) by tert-butylhydroperoxide(300 micro M).7. Our results strongly suggest that NO is a negative modulator of insulin release induced by the nutrient secretagogues L-arginine and glucose. This effect is probably not mediated to any major extent by the guanylate cyclase-cyclic GMP system but may rather be exerted by the S-nitrosylation of critical thiol groups involved in the secretory process. Similarly the inhibitory effect of tert-butylhydroperoxide is likely to be elicited through affecting critical thiol groups. The mechanism underlying the secretion promoting action of tert-butylhydroperoxide on IBMX-induced insulin release is probably linked to intracellular Ca2+-perturbations affecting exocytosis.8. Taken together with previous data the present results suggest that islet production of low physiological levels of free radicals such as NO and H202 may serve as important modulators of insulin secretory processes.

Glucose modulation of islet monoamine oxidase activity in lean and obese hyperglycemic mice

Islet beta-cell monoamines are known to influence the insulin-releasing mechanisms. These amines are localized in the insulin-secretory granules and are inactivated by the enzyme monoamine oxidase (MAO), a hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-generating enzyme. The activity of islet MAO may consequently be of importance for insulin secretion. In the present investigation, we studied the relation between islet MAO activity and plasma levels of insulin and glucose in obese (ob/ob) hyperglycemic mice and their lean littermates. In addition, the effect of glucose on the MAO activity of in vitro-cultured islets was studied. MAO activity was assayed with serotonin, dopamine (DA), and beta-phenylethylamine (PEA) as substrates. After an overnight fast in adult (age, 6 months) lean mice, islet MAO activity was increased by 35% to 70%. Plasma levels of glucose and insulin were markedly decreased as expected. However, fasting in adult obese mice either did not affect islet MAO activity (PEA and DA) or induced a slight decrease (serotonin) of approximately 25% (P < .05). Plasma glucose levels in adult obese mice were not significantly affected by the overnight fast. However, a correlation analysis based on individual adult obese mice (fed and fasted) showed a negative correlation between plasma glucose concentration and islet MAO activity with PEA (r = -.65, P < .02) and DA (r = -.66, P < .02), respectively. Further, a positive correlation (r = +.58, P < .05) was found between glucose level and islet MAO activity when using serotonin as substrate. There was no difference in islet MAO activity with PEA and DA as substrates in fed obese versus fed lean mice.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Changes in islet glucan-1,4-alpha-glucosidase activity modulate sulphonylurea-induced but not cholinergic insulin secretion

We have previously presented indirect in vivo evidence for the involvement of islet acid glucan-1,4-alpha-glucosidase (acid amyloglucosidase), a lysosomal glucose-producing enzyme, in certain insulin secretory processes. In the present in vitro and in vivo investigation, we studied whether differential changes in islet acid amyloglucosidase activity would be related to the insulin secretory response induced by two mechanistically different secretagogues, the sulphonylurea derivative, glibenclamide and the acetylcholine receptor agonist, carbachol. It was observed that the selective alpha-glucosidehydrolase inhibitors emiglitate and acarbose markedly reduced glibenclamide-induced insulin release from isolated islets. Insulin release stimulated by carbachol or the protein kinase C activator TPA (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate), was not inhibited. Basal insulin secretion was unaffected by emiglitate and acarbose. Further, pretreatment of mice with emiglitate resulted in a marked reduction of the in vivo insulin response to glibenclamide. Moreover, in vivo pretreatment with purified fungal amyloglucosidase ('enzyme replacement'), a procedure known to increase islet amyloglucosidase activity, greatly enhanced the insulin response to i.v. glibenclamide. This insulin release was accompanied by a marked depression of the blood glucose levels. In contrast, enzyme pretreatment did not influence the insulin response or the blood glucose levels after carbachol. The data strongly suggest that islet acid amyloglucosidase is involved in the insulin secretory processes induced by glibenclamide but not in those involving stimulation of muscarinic receptors or direct activation of protein kinase C. The results also indicate separate or at least partially separate pathways for insulin release induced by glibenclamide and cholinergic stimulation.

Islet glucan-1,4-alpha-glucosidase: differential influence on insulin secretion induced by glucose and isobutylmethylxanthine in mice

In previous in-vivo studies we have presented indirect evidence for the involvement of islet acid glucan-1,4-alpha-glucosidase (acid amyloglucosidase), a lysosomal glycogen-hydrolysing enzyme, in certain insulin secretory processes. In the present combined in-vitro and in-vivo investigation, we studied whether differential changes in islet acid amyloglucosidase activity were related to the insulin secretory response induced by two mechanistically different secretagogues, glucose and isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX). It was observed that addition of the selective alpha-glucosidehydrolase inhibitor emiglitate (1 mmol/l) to isolated pancreatic islets resulted in a marked reduction of glucose-induced insulin release. This was accompanied by a pronounced suppression of islet activities of acid amyloglucosidase and acid alpha-glucosidase, whereas other lysosomal enzyme activities, such as acid phosphatase and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase, were unaffected. Furthermore, islets first incubated with emiglitate in the presence of high (16.7 mmol/l) glucose released less insulin than untreated controls in response to glucose in a second incubation period in the absence of emiglitate. In contrast, IBMX-induced insulin release was not influenced by emiglitate although accompanied by a marked reduction of islet activities of all three alpha-glucosidehydrolases. Basal insulin secretion (1 mmol glucose/l) was unaffected in the presence of emiglitate. In-vivo pretreatment of mice with highly purified fungal amyloglucosidase ('enzyme replacement'), a procedure known to increase islet amyloglucosidase activity, resulted in a greatly enhanced insulin secretory response to an i.v. glucose load. The increase in insulin release was accompanied by a markedly improved glucose tolerance curve in these animals. In contrast, enzyme pretreatment did not influence the insulin response or the blood glucose levels after an i.v. injection of IBMX. The data lend further support to our hypothesis that islet acid amyloglucosidase is involved in the multifactorial insulin secretory processes induced by glucose but not in those involving direct activation of the cyclic AMP system. The results also indicate separate, or at least partially separate, pathways for insulin release induced by glucose and IBMX.

Ca2+ deficiency, selective alpha-glucosidehydrolase inhibition, and insulin secretion

We investigated the relation between activities of islet glycogenolytic alpha-glucosidehydrolases and insulin secretion induced by glucose and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) by means of suppressing 1) insulin release (Ca2+ deficiency) and 2) islet alpha-glucosidehydrolase activity (selective inhibition by the deoxynojirimycin derivative miglitol). Additionally, the in vivo insulin response to both secretagogues was examined. We observed that, similar to glucose-induced insulin release, islet glycogenolytic hydrolases (acid amyloglucosidase, acid alpha-glucosidase) were highly Ca2+ dependent. Acid phosphatase, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase, or neutral alpha-glucosidase (endoplasmic reticulum) was not influenced by Ca2+ deficiency. In Ca2+ deficiency IBMX-induced insulin release was unaffected and was accompanied by reduced activities of islet alpha-glucosidehydrolases. Miglitol strongly inhibited glucose-induced insulin release concomitant with a marked suppression of islet alpha-glucosidehydrolase activities. Direct addition of miglitol to islet homogenates suppressed acid amyloglucosidase [half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) approximately 10(-6) M] and acid alpha-glucosidase. Acid phosphatase and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase were unaffected. The miglitol-induced inhibition of glucose-stimulated insulin release was dose dependent (EC50 approximately 10(-6) M) and displayed a remarkable parallelism with the inhibition curve for acid amyloglucosidase. The in vivo insulin secretory response to glucose was markedly reduced in dystrophic mice (low amyloglucosidase), whereas the response to IBMX was unaffected. In summary, islet glycogenolytic hydrolases are Ca2+ dependent, and acid amyloglucosidase is directly involved in the multifactorial process of glucose-induced insulin release. In contrast the mechanisms of IBMX-stimulated insulin secretion operate independently of these enzymes. The effects of miglitol, a drug currently used in diabetes therapy, deserves further investigation.

Influence of beta 2-adrenoceptor stimulation and glucose on islet monoamine oxidase activity and insulin secretory response in the mouse

Changes in the content of monoamines such as dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) in the insulin granules are known to influence insulin release. The monoamines are inactivated by monoamine oxidase (MAO), a hydrogen peroxide-generating enzyme, which may be of importance for the redox state of the beta-cell. We studied the action of two different insulin secretagogues, the beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist terbutaline and glucose, on islet MAO activity and the plasma levels of insulin and glucose. MAO was assayed with 5-HT, DA, and beta-phenylethylamine as substrates. At 6 min (but not at 2 or 30 min) after terbutaline injection, marked increases of islet MAO activity and the plasma insulin levels were recorded. The plasma glucose levels were of the same magnitude at all time points. Injection of glucose moderately suppressed enzyme activity at 2 min. This occurred concomitantly with the peak increase in plasma levels of insulin and glucose. At 60 min, when the plasma levels of glucose and insulin were restored to basal, a slight increase in MAO activity was observed. At 2 min after injection of different doses of glucose mixed with a maximal dose of terbutaline, the insulin secretory response was either increased (submaximal glucose dose) or unaffected (maximal dose of glucose) by the beta 2-adrenoceptor stimulator. However, when a maximal dose of glucose was given at 6 min after terbutaline, i.e., when islet MAO activity was increased, the insulin response to glucose was suppressed. Starvation for 24 h induced an increase in islet MAO activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of adrenergic and cholinergic stimulation on islet monoamine oxidase activity and insulin secretion in the mouse

It has been shown that the pancreatic beta-cell monoamines are located in the secretory granules, and that they have an inhibitory influence on insulin secretion. Monoamines are inactivated by the enzyme, monoamine oxidase. We now studied in vivo the relation between adrenergic and cholinergic stimulation, insulin secretion and islet monoamine oxidase activity in the mouse. Monoamine oxidase was assayed with three different substrates, serotonin, dopamine and beta-phenylethylamine. The alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist, clonidine, induced a moderate inhibition (12-18%) of islet monoamine oxidase activity, accompanied by reduced plasma insulin and elevated plasma glucose levels. The alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist, phenylephrine, did not induce any changes in these parameters. A marked insulin release following the injection of a maximal dose of the beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist, terbutaline, was accompanied by an increase (30-50%) in islet monoamine oxidase activity. The largest increase in monoamine oxidase activity was observed with serotonin as substrate (50%). These effects on insulin secretion and monoamine oxidase activity could not be blocked by clonidine. Similarly, injection of the non-selective alpha-adrenoceptor agonist, adrenaline, which unlike clonidine does not penetrate the blood-brain barrier, had no effect on insulin release induced by a maximal dose of the nonselective beta-adrenoceptor agonist, isoprenaline. Adrenaline, however, markedly suppressed the insulin release induced by a maximal dose of glucose. Cholinergic muscarinic stimulation by a maximal insulin releasing dose of carbachol did not affect islet monoamine oxidase activity. The results suggest that beta 2-adrenoceptor stimulation of islet monoamine oxidase activity reduced the monoamine content and thereby facilitated the release of insulin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Islet lysosomal enzyme activities and glucose-induced insulin secretion: effects of mannoheptulose, 2-deoxyglucose and clonidine

In previous investigations we have shown a striking relationship between the activity of glycogenolytic glucose producing acid hydrolases in pancreatic islet tissue and certain insulin-releasing processes. In the present investigation we have studied the relation between islet lysosomal enzyme activities and glucose-induced insulin secretion in vitro in the presence of various insulin secretory inhibitors. It was observed that the nonmetabolizable glucose analogue, mannoheptulose (5 mmol/l) did induce a 2-fold increase in insulin release at low (1 mmol/l) glucose, and a total suppression of insulin release at high (16.7 mmol/l) glucose. These changes in the insulin-secretory pattern were accompanied by similar changes in the activity of islet acid alpha-glucosidase. The activities of neutral alpha-glucosidase (endoplasmic reticulum) or acid phosphatase and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (lysosomes) were not affected by mannoheptulose. 2-Deoxyglucose (5 mmol/l), another glucose analogue, did not increase insulin secretion or acid alpha-glucosidase activity at low glucose. At high glucose, however, a partial inhibition of both insulin release (approximately 50%) and acid alpha-glucosidase activity was seen. 2-Deoxyglucose slightly suppressed acid phosphatase activity but did not influence the activities of neutral alpha-glucosidase or N-acetyl-beta-D- glucosaminidase. Direct addition of glucose to islet homogenates showed a suppressive effect on alpha-glucosidase activity at pH 4.0 and 5.0. The glucose analogues displayed only marginal (-10%) inhibition of alpha-glucosidase activity at pH 5.0. No effect of the analogues was seen at pH 4.0.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Inhibition of islet nitric oxide synthase increases arginine-induced insulin release

NG-Nitro-L-arginine, an inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthase, markedly (+50%) increased the L-arginine-induced insulin release from isolated mouse islets but did not itself influence insulin secretion. An abundance of mouse islet cells were positively stained for the enzyme NADPH diaphorase, which reportedly is a marker for NO synthase. The data suggest that the NO synthase activity in mouse islet tissue may inhibit insulin secreting processes and that L-arginine has a dual action on insulin release.

Homologous islet amyloid polypeptide: effects on plasma levels of glucagon, insulin and glucose in the mouse

We examined the effects of a single intravenous injection of homologous islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) on the plasma levels of glucagon, insulin and glucose in the freely fed mouse. It was observed that IAPP suppressed basal glucagon levels concomitant with a decrease of the blood glucose concentrations. Basal plasma insulin levels were not affected. IAPP did not appreciably modulate the plasma concentration of glucose, insulin or glucagon after an intravenous glucose load. Further, IAPP inhibited the insulin secretory response to beta 2-adrenoceptor stimulation. IAPP also lowered the plasma glucagon levels following beta 2-adrenoceptor stimulation, whereas no apparent effect on plasma levels of glucose was observed. The data suggest that IAPP suppresses glucagon secretion and lowers blood glucose levels in the freely fed mouse. It might also exhibit a negative feedback inhibition on beta 2-adrenoceptor-induced insulin secretion, but has little influence on glucose-induced insulin release. Since IAPP is co-secreted with insulin, it is not inconceivable, that in the freely fed mouse, IAPP may act to amplify the blood glucose lowering effect of insulin through a direct suppression of glucagon secretion via the islet microcirculation.

The relationship of islet amyloglucosidase activity and glucose-induced insulin secretion

We have previously presented evidence for the involvement of islet acid amyloglucosidase, a lysosomal glycogen-hydrolyzing enzyme, in certain insulin secretory processes. In the present investigation, we studied whether differential changes in islet amyloglucosidase activity could be related to the insulin secretory response to glucose. It was observed that the dose-response curve for glucose-induced insulin response in vivo was shifted to the left by pretreatment of mice with purified fungal amyloglucosidase. In enzyme-pretreated mice, the ED50 was 2.1 mmol/kg glucose as compared with 5.7 mmol/kg in saline-pretreated controls (p less than 0.005). Also, the maximal insulin response to glucose was enhanced by amyloglucosidase pretreatment. Parenteral administration to mice (four injections during 2 days) of the pseudotetrasaccharide acarbose, a recognized inhibitor of intestinal alpha-glucosidases, surprisingly induced a marked increase in the activities of islet acid amyloglucosidase (+ 120%; p less than 0.001) and acid alpha-glucosidase (+ 45%; p less than 0.01) without affecting the activities of other lysosomal enzymes such as acid phosphatase and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase. No effect on the microsomal neutral alpha-glucosidase was recorded. Moreover, in these mice, the insulin secretory response to glucose was enhanced both at a maximal dose of glucose 11.1 mmol/kg and at a dose in the ED25-ED50 range, 3.3 mmol/kg (p less than 0.005). Direct addition of acarbose to islet homogenates strongly suppressed acid amyloglucosidase activity, the EC50 being approximately 1 microM. Acid alpha-glucosidase activity was also strongly inhibited, whereas the activities of acid phosphatase and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase were unaffected. Neutral alpha-glucosidase was slightly suppressed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cholecystokinin is not a major determinant for the changes in beta-cell function seen after pancreatico-biliary diversion in rats

The influence of longterm increase in the plasma CCK levels on beta-cell function in rats was studied by using the pancreatico-biliary diversion (PBD) model. An intravenous glucose load (800 mg glucose/kg) was performed three weeks after the PBD operation. Additionally a group of PBD operated animals as well as an unoperated group received the CCK receptor antagonist L364,718 continuously during the three week study period. The proliferation rate of endocrine pancreatic cells was studied by means of 3H-thymidine administration. PBD caused a decrease in basal levels of insulin and glucose and an augmented insulin secretory response after glucose injection. There was no appreciable influence on the glucose elimination rate. When PBD animals were given the CCK receptor antagonist no differences were observed with regard to insulin and glucose compared to PBD animals without antagonist. The CCK-antagonist did not influence the beta-cell function in unoperated animals. Further, the proliferation rate of the endocrine pancreatic cells was not significantly changed in the PBD rats. The results suggest that PBD is accompanied by significant changes in basal and stimulated insulin secretion. These changes are probably not a direct consequence of the increased plasma CCK levels that follows PBD. Moreover, the insulin secretory response to glucose in normal rats was not influenced by longterm administration of the CCK receptor antagonist. Our observations should encourage further studies on the complex entero-insular interactions following pancreaticobiliary diversion.

Effect of L-dopa administration on islet monoamine oxidase activity and glucose-induced insulin release in the mouse

Previous studies have shown that the amine precursor L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) is rapidly converted to its corresponding amine, dopamine, in islet beta-cells. In the present investigation, we studied the effect of acute L-DOPA administration on islet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity and on glucose-induced insulin secretory response in mice. It was observed that at 2 min after intravenous L-DOPA administration, there was a marked increase (+35%) in islet MAO activity, with serotonin as substrate. At 7 min, MAO activity towards dopamine was enhanced by 32% and that towards serotonin and phenylethylamine (PEA) was decreased by 23 and 25%, respectively. The inhibitor of L-aromatic amino acid decarboxylase, benserazide, abolished L-DOPA-induced changes of MAO activity, suggesting that the formed dopamine, and not L-DOPA itself, was responsible for the observed effects. At 60 min, no effect by L-DOPA administration on islet MAO activity was noticed. L-DOPA (125 or 250 mumol/kg), given together with glucose, induced a decrease in glucose-induced insulin response. L-DOPA (125 mumol/kg), given 7 min before glucose, totally suppressed glucose-induced insulin response. This inhibition was eliminated through pretreatment with benserazide. Enhancement of glucose-stimulated insulin response, after deposition of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in beta-cell vacuolar system, was suppressed by L-DOPA. We conclude that acute L-DOPA-induced dopamine accumulation in pancreatic islets is accompanied by rapid changes in MAO activity, concomitant with an inhibitory effect on glucose-stimulated insulin response. Increased hydrogen peroxide production, following increased MAO activity, may possibly augment the inhibitory effect of dopamine accumulation on insulin release.

Effect of the lysosomotropic drug suramin on islet lysosomal enzyme activities and the insulin-secretory response induced by various secretagogues

The trypanocidal drug suramin is known to concentrate in lysosomes and to depress the activity of different lysosomal enzymes. We have previously shown that suramin can inhibit the activity of the islet lysosomal enzyme acid amyloglucosidase, a glycogenolytic glucose-producing hydrolase, which seems to be involved in certain insulin-secretory processes. In the present investigation we studied the pH dependency and dose-response effects of suramin on islet lysosomal enzyme activities as well as the effect of suramin treatment on the insulin-secretory response to various secretagogues in mice. It was found that two injections of suramin (0.18 mmol/kg) to normal NMRI mice at -24 and -2 h induced a moderate depression of the activities of islet acid amyloglucosidase (-22%) and acid phosphatase (-13%), whereas no effect was recorded for the activities of acid alpha-glucosidase, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase and the non-lysosomal enzyme neutral alpha-glucosidase. Direct addition of different concentrations of suramin to islet homogenates showed that the drug was a potent inhibitor of acid amyloglucosidase and acid alpha-glucosidase at pH 4.0. At pH 5.0, suramin induced a large increase in acid alpha-glucosidase activity, whereas acid amyloglucosidase and acid phosphatase were inhibited. Suramin-injected mice showed a reduced insulin-secretory response to the sulphonylurea drug glibenclamide (-45%), whereas the insulin response to the cholinergic agonist carbachol or the phosphodiesterase inhibitor IBMX (1-isobutyl-3-methylxanthine) was unaffected. It is concluded that suramin inhibits islet acid amyloglucosidase activity in vivo and in vitro, whereas its effect on acid alpha-glucosidase is complex and pH dependent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Monoamines in pancreatic islets of guinea pig, hamster, rat, and mouse determined by high performance liquid chromatography

Previous studies on the occurrence of catecholamines and serotonin in pancreatic islets using various histochemical and chemical methods have given widely different results. We therefore performed a comparative analysis of these amines in whole pancreas and islet tissue from hamster, guinea pig, rat, and mouse by the use of high performance liquid chromatography. Whole pancreas of guinea pig, hamster, and rat had a norepinephrine concentration of approximately 1.1 mumol/kg of pancreatic wet weight. The mouse pancreas had less than one-half of that concentration. Epinephrine and dopamine concentrations were on the order of 0.02 mumol/kg of pancreatic wet weight in all four species. The serotonin concentration was 2.1 mumol/kg of pancreatic wet weight in the guinea pig pancreas and approximately 0.2 mumol/kg in the other three species studied. The catecholamine concentrations were much higher in the pancreatic islets than in the exocrine pancreas. Thus, the norepinephrine concentration was approximately 35 mumol/kg of islet wet weight in hamster islets and 5-10 mumol/kg in rat, guinea pig, and mouse islets. The epinephrine concentration in islet tissue ranged between 1 and 7 mumol/kg of islet wet weight and the dopamine concentration between 0.5 and 4 mumol/kg except for guinea pig islets (12 mumol/kg). The islet tissue in the mouse, rat, and guinea pig contained disproportionately more epinephrine and dopamine relative to norepinephrine than did the exocrine pancreas. Chemical sympathectomy (6-hydroxydopamine treatment) in the mouse reduced the norepinephrine and epinephrine concentrations in islet tissue to nondetectable levels, whereas the dopamine concentration was essentially unchanged, thus suggesting an extra-neuronal source of this amine in addition to its occurrence in adrenergic nerves.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The effect of various thermal processes on the glycemic response to whole grain wheat products in humans and rats

The effects of different thermal processes used to produce ready-to-eat cereals on the glycemic response to whole grain wheat were investigated in rats. The metabolic response to drum dried flour, which constitutes the major component in instant gruel and porridge, was also studied in healthy human subjects. Boiled flour was used for comparison. The degree of starch gelatinization and rate of starch hydrolysis in vitro were also measured. Incompletely gelatinized steam flaked and dry autoclaved products were digested more slowly in vitro and elicited lower glucose responses in rats compared with completely gelatinized drum dried, extrusion cooked or boiled samples. The initial glycemic response in rats was closely related to the rate of starch hydrolysis in the pepsin/alpha-amylase assay (r = 0.91, P less than 0.04). When pepsin was omitted, no significant correlation was obtained. The peak glucose, insulin and C-peptide responses in humans after breakfast meals of porridge prepared from drum dried flour and from boiled flour were similar, whereas the rate of depression of the glucose curve was more rapid after consuming drum dried porridge. It is concluded that the glycemic response to wheat products is affected by the processing conditions used. The more severe the processing conditions, the more rapid the digestion of starch.

Monoamine oxidase (MAO) in pancreatic islets of the mouse: some characteristics and the effect of chemical sympathectomy

We have previously observed that chemical sympathectomy in the guinea pig induced an increase in the intensity of serotonin fluorescence in the insulin cells of the pancreatic islets. In the present study we have studied some basal characteristics of mouse islet monoamine oxidase (MAO) and the effect of chemical sympathectomy induced by 6-hydroxydopamine on the activity of this enzyme. Estimated Km-values for MAO activity with different substrates were as follows: serotonin (5-HT; 2 x 10(-4) M), dopamine (DA; 4 x 10(-4) M), and 2-phenylethylamine (PEA; 4 x 10(-6) M). The highest specific activity was displayed with PEA and DA as substrates, whereas it was about 10 times lower with 5-HT as substrate. Two days after the destruction of islet adrenergic nerves by 6-hydroxydopamine we observed a decrease of approximately 30% of the MAO activity with serotonin as substrate and after seven days the MAO activity with PEA as substrate had decreased by 18%. By contrast the MAO activity with DA as substrate was slightly increased (+ 12%) at two days after sympathectomy. There is a need for a further characterization of islet MAO activity(ies) and for further studies on its putative role in insulin secretory processes through its regulation of the islet monoamine stores.

Islet hormone secretion and islet lysosomal enzyme activities in the mouse: effects of chloroquine

To examine the function of islet lysosomal enzymes in islet hormone secretory mechanisms, we investigated the effects of the lysosomotropic drug chloroquine on islet lysosomal enzyme activities and basal as well as stimulated insulin and glucagon secretion. Chloroquine, added to islet homogenates, did not affect the activities of the lysosomal enzymes acid amyloglucosidase, acid alpha-glucosidase, or N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase. The activity of acid phosphatase, however, was inhibited at a high concentration of chloroquine (10(-3) M). When injected together with glucose, chloroquine (2 or 10 mumol/kg) inhibited the peak plasma insulin response. Similarly, at 24 hrs after chloroquine injection (100 mumol/kg), the plasma insulin response to glucose was reduced. In contrast, islets isolated from mice pretreated 24 hrs before with chloroquine, displayed glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in vitro that was not different from controls. Such islets showed, furthermore, enhanced activities of the enzymes acid phosphatase and neutral alpha-glucosidase but not of acid amyloglucosidase, acid alpha-glucosidase or N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase. Arginine-stimulated insulin response in vivo displayed a complex pattern; it was increased when arginine was injected together with chloroquine but decreased at 24 hrs after chloroquine administration. Arginine-stimulated glucagon secretion was not affected by chloroquine. We conclude that chloroquine pretreatment 24 hrs prior to glucose injection decreases glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in vivo by mechanisms that are not correlated to an inhibitory action on islet activities of glycogenolytic lysosomal enzymes.

Degree of starch gelatinization, digestion rate of starch in vitro, and metabolic response in rats

Glycemic response after ingestion of starchy foods varies. Starch in many common ready-to-eat foods is only partly gelatinized. In view of this, the relationships among degree of starch gelatinization, in vitro digestion rate, and in vivo metabolic response in rats were studied. Wheat starch with different degrees of gelatinization was used in the experiments. Plasma glucose and insulin responses as well as the rate of in vitro hydrolysis with alpha-amylase were strongly correlated to the degree of starch gelatinization (r = 0.88, r = 0.90, and r = 0.96, respectively). Plasma glucose and insulin responses were also positively correlated to the rate of hydrolysis with alpha-amylase in vitro (r = 0.98 and r = 0.76, respectively). These results suggest that the degree of starch gelatinization is an important determinant both for the rate of starch hydrolysis in vitro and for the metabolic response in vivo.

Effects of peptide HI on basal and stimulated insulin and glucagon secretion in the mouse

Peptide HI (PHI) is a peptide with 27 amino acids that is structurally similar to VIP (vasoactive intestinal peptide). Since PHI, like VIP, has been demonstrated to occur in intrapancreatic neurons, and since VIP earlier was shown to stimulate insulin and glucagon secretion in the mouse, we investigated whether also PHI affects islet hormone secretion in this species. PHI was thereby injected intravenously at dose levels between 0.5 and 8.0 nmol/kg. It was found that PHI did not affect basal levels of insulin of glucagon. However, a slight hyperglycemia was observed after injection of PHI at dose levels above 4.0 nmol/kg. When injected together with glucose (2.8 nmol/kg), PHI (1.0 and 4.0 nmol/kg) potentiated the insulin response by approximately 35% (P less than 0.05) and 50% (P less than 0.01), respectively. In contrast, the insulin response to the cholinergic agonist carbachol (0.16 mumol/kg) or the beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist terbutaline (3.6 mumol/kg) was not affected by PHI. The glucagon response to carbachol was potentiated by PHI (1.0 and 4.0 nmol/kg) by approximately 40% (P less than 0.05) and 55% (P less than 0.01), respectively, whereas the terbutaline-induced increase in plasma glucagon levels was not affected by PHI. In summary, PHI potentiates glucose-induced insulin secretion and carbachol-induced glucagon secretion in the mouse. Since similar effects earlier have been demonstrated for VIP, it is concluded that PHI in this species exerts VIP-like effects.

Selective alpha 2-adrenoceptor activation by clonidine: effects on 45Ca2+ efflux and insulin secretion from isolated rat islets

A possible role for Ca2+ in the alpha-adrenoceptor-induced inhibition of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion was studied in isolated rat islets by the use of the selective alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine. We found that clonidine, in contrast to the alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine, inhibited glucose-stimulated insulin secretion at dose levels below 10(-6) mol l-1. In islets preloaded with 45Ca2+ and perifused at 2 mmol l-1 Ca2+, clonidine (10(-6) mol l-1) reduced the glucose (13.3 mmol l-1)-stimulated 45Ca2+ efflux during both the first and second phases of insulin secretion. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of clonidine on glucose (13.3 mmol l-1)-stimulated insulin secretion was partially counteracted by raising the extracellular Ca2+ concentrations. Moreover, the calcium channel agonist Bay K 8644 counteracted the inhibition by clonidine on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Our results suggest that selective alpha 2-adrenoceptor-induced inhibition of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion is mediated, at least partially, by restraint of Ca2+-influx. This action might in turn be exerted through interference with the voltage-dependent calcium channels.

Alpha-adrenoceptor blockade by phentolamine inhibits beta-adrenergically and cholinergically induced glucagon secretion in the mouse

Glucagon secretion is known to be stimulated by activation of the alpha-adrenoceptors. In this study, we investigated whether alpha-adrenoceptor blockade by phentolamine affects basal and stimulated glucagon secretion in the mouse. Phentolamine was injected intraperitoneally to mice at dose levels varying from 2.6 to 260 mumol/kg. It was found that, while decreasing plasma glucose levels, phentolamine did not over this wide dose range affect basal glucagon concentrations indicating an inhibition of the hypoglycaemia-induced glucagon secretion. Further, phentolamine clearly inhibited the glucagon secretory response to beta-adrenergic or cholinergic stimulation. Thus, phentolamine (2.6 mumol/kg), impaired the glucagon secretory response to the beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist terbutaline by 51% (P less than 0.01), and to the cholinergic agonist carbachol by 44% (P less than 0.02). We conclude that alpha-adrenoceptor blockade by phentolamine inhibits the glucagon secretion following hypoglycaemia or stimulation by beta-adrenergic and cholinergic agonists. Thus, the alpha-adrenoceptors seem to be of great importance for glucagon secretion in the mouse.

Alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptor activation increases plasma glucagon levels in the mouse

The effects of activation of the alpha-adrenoceptors on glucagon secretion are not yet clear. We therefore injected the alpha 1-selective agonist phenylephrine and the alpha 2-selective agonist clonidine (0.05-50 nmol/kg) intravenously to mice and measured the plasma glucagon levels. We found that both phenylephrine and clonidine enhanced the plasma glucagon levels. The peak level of plasma glucagon was seen at 2 min after clonidine injection whereas phenylephrine enhanced the plasma glucagon levels throughout a 10 min period after the injection. Furthermore, both clonidine and phenylephrine potentiated the plasma glucagon response to the cholinergic agonist carbachol and exerted additive stimulatory effects on the plasma glucagon response to both the beta-adrenoceptor agonist terbutaline and the C-terminal octapeptide of cholecystokinin, CCK-8. The elevated plasma insulin levels after injection of carbachol or terbutaline were lowered by clonidine but not by phenylephrine whereas the CCK-8-induced increase in plasma insulin levels was not affected by either clonidine or phenylephrine. We conclude that both alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptor activation enhances plasma glucagon levels in the mouse, and that alpha 2- but not alpha 1-adrenoceptor activation lowers plasma insulin levels.