Metabolic effects of salmon glucagon and glucagon-like peptide in coho and chinook salmon

Study on the Hyperglycemic Effect of GLP-1 in Spinibarbus denticulatus by Oral Administration and Intraperitoneal Injection Methods

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), one of the expression products of the proglucagon (pg) gene, is an incretin mainly secreted by the gastrointestinal system. In mammals, GLP-1 has hypoglycemic and food-inhibiting effects; while in some fish species, it has been confirmed to increase blood glucose by promoting gluconeogenesis and stimulating glycogenolysis. In order to more deeply understand the role of GLP-1 in the process of glycometabolism in herbivorous fish, the pg gene was cloned from Spinibarbus denticulatus to obtain its sequence characteristics, and the changes in blood glucose level and pg gene expression in S. denticulatus were further explored by feeding with three kinds of carbohydrates and intraperitoneal injection of GLP-1. Basal and temporal blood glucose levels and pg gene expression of S. denticulatus (91.68 ± 10.79 g) were measured at 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 12 h after oral administration (n = 4). Then, the changes of blood glucose levels and pg and glucokinase (gk) gene expressions of S. denticulatus (94.29 ± 10.82 g) were determined at 0, 30, 60, and 120 min after intraperitoneal injection (n = 4). It was shown that polysaccharides could induce the upregulation of pg gene expression faster than monosaccharides and stimulate the secretion of GLP-1 in the intestine. Intraperitoneal injection of GLP-1 peptide rapidly raised blood glucose levels, and pg gene expression in the anterior intestine, whole brain, and hepatopancreas decreased continuously after 30 minutes. These results showed that S. denticulatus might inhibit the excessive accumulation of blood glucose by reducing the expression of the pg gene and increasing the expression of gk gene in a short time. It was speculated that GLP-1 of S. denticulatus might have a "gut-brain-liver" pathway similar to mammals in glycemia regulation. Therefore, this study provided a novel perspective for explaining the functional differences of GLP-1 in herbivorous fish and mammals.

Evolution of the glucagon-like system across fish

In fishes, including the jawless lampreys, the most ancient lineage of extant vertebrates, plasma glucose levels are highly variable and regulation is more relaxed than in mammals. The regulation of glucose and lipid in fishes in common with mammals involves members of the glucagon (GCG)-like family of gastrointestinal peptides. In mammals, four peptides GCG, glucagon-like peptide 1 and 2 (GLP1 and GLP2) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) that activate four specific receptors exist. However, in lamprey and other fishes the glucagon-like family evolved differently and they retained additional gene family members (glucagon-related peptide, gcrp and its receptor, gcrpr) that are absent from mammals. In the present study, we analysed the evolution of the glucagon-like system in fish and characterized gene expression of the family members in the European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) a teleost fish. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that multiple receptors and peptides of the glucagon-like family emerged early during the vertebrate radiation and evolved via lineage specific events. Synteny analysis suggested that family member gene loss is likely to be the result of a single gene deletion event. Lamprey was the only fish where a putative glp1r persisted and the presence of the receptor gene in the genomes of the elephant shark and coelacanth remains unresolved. In the coelacanth and elephant shark, unique proglucagon genes were acquired which in the former only encoded Gcg and Glp2 and in the latter, shared a similar structure to the teleost proglucagon gene but possessed an extra exon coding for Glp-like peptide that was most similar to Glp2. The variable tissue distribution of the gene transcripts encoding the ligands and receptors of the glucagon-like system in an advanced teleost, the European sea bass, suggested that, as occurs in mammals, they have acquired distinct functions. Statistically significant (p < .05) down-regulation of teleost proglucagon a in sea bass with modified plasma glucose levels confirmed the link between these peptides and metabolism. The tissue distribution of members of the glucagon-like system in sea bass and human suggests that evolution of the brain-gut-peptide regulatory loop diverged between teleosts and mammals despite the overall conservation and similarity of glucagon-like family members.

Diversification of the functions of proglucagon and glucagon receptor genes in fish

The teleost fish-specific genome duplication gave rise to a great number of species inhabiting diverse environments with different access to nutrients and life histories. This event produced duplicated gcg genes, gcga and gcgb, for proglucagon-derived peptides, glucagon and GLP-1 and duplicated gcgr receptor genes, gcgra and gcgrb, which play key roles connecting the consumption of nutrients with glucose metabolism. We conducted a systematic survey of the genomes from 28 species of fish (24 bony (Superclass Osteichthyes), 1 lobe-finned (Class Sarcoperygii), 1 cartilaginous (Superclass Chondrichthyes), and 2 jawless (Superclass Agnatha)) and find that almost all surveyed ray-finned fish contain gcga and gcgb genes with different coding potential and duplicated gcgr genes, gcgra and gcgrb that form two separate clades in the phylogenetic tree consistent with the accepted species phylogeny. All gcgb genes encoded only glucagon and GLP-1 and gcga genes encoded glucagon, GLP-1, and GLP-2, indicating that gcga was subfunctionalized to produce GLP-2. We find a single glp2r, but no glp1r suggesting that duplicated gcgrb was neofunctionalized to bind GLP-1, as demonstrated for the zebrafish gcgrb (Oren et al., 2016). In functional experiments with zebrafish gcgrb and GLP-1 from diverse fish we find that anglerfish GLP-1a, encoded by gcga, is less biologically active than the gcgb anglerfish GLP-1b paralog. But some other fish (zebrafish, salmon, and catfish) gcga GLP-1a display similar biological activities, indicating that the regulation of glucose metabolism by GLP-1 in ray-finned fish is species-specific. Searches of genomes in cartilaginous fish identified a proglucagon gene that encodes a novel GLP-3 peptide in addition to glucagon, GLP-1, and GLP-2, as well as a single gcgr, glp2r, and a new glucagon receptor-like receptor whose identity still needs to be confirmed. The sequence of the shark GLP-1 contained an N-terminal mammalian-like extension that in mammals undergoes a proteolytic cleavage to release biologically active GLP-1. Our results indicate that early in vertebrate evolution diverse regulatory mechanisms emerged for the control of glucose metabolism by proglucagon-derived peptides and their receptors and that in ray-finned fish they included subfunctionalization and neofunctionalization of these genes.

Glucose metabolism in fish: a review

Teleost fishes represent a highly diverse group consisting of more than 20,000 species living across all aquatic environments. This group has significant economical, societal and environmental impacts, yet research efforts have concentrated primarily on salmonid and cyprinid species. This review examines carbohydrate/glucose metabolism and its regulation in these model species including the role of hormones and diet. Over the past decade, molecular tools have been used to address some of the downstream components of these processes and these are incorporated to better understand the roles played by carbohydrates and their regulatory paths. Glucose metabolism remains a contentious area as many fish species are traditionally considered glucose intolerant and, therefore, one might expect that the use and storage of glucose would be considered of minor importance. However, the actual picture is not so clear since the apparent intolerance of fish to carbohydrates is not evident in herbivorous and omnivorous species and even in carnivorous species, glucose is important for specific tissues and/or for specific activities. Thus, our aim is to up-date carbohydrate metabolism in fish, placing it to the context of these new experimental tools and its relationship to dietary intake. Finally, we suggest that new research directions ultimately will lead to a better understanding of these processes.

Evidence for a gut-brain axis used by glucagon-like peptide-1 to elicit hyperglycaemia in fish

In mammals, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) produces changes in glucose and energy homeostasis through a gut-pancreas-brain axis. In fish, the effects of GLP-1 are opposed to those described in other vertebrates, such as stimulation of hyperglycaemia and the lack of an effect of incretin. In the present study conducted in a teleost fish such as the rainbow trout, we present evidence of a gut-brain axis used by GLP-1 to exert its actions on glucose and energy homeostasis. We have assessed the effects of GLP-1 on glucose metabolism in the liver as well as the glucose-sensing potential in the hypothalamus and hindbrain. We confirm that peripheral GLP-1 administration elicits sustained hyperglycaemia, whereas, for the first time in a vertebrate species, we report that central GLP-1 treatment increases plasma glucose levels. We have observed (using capsaicin) that at least part of the action of GLP-1 on glucose homeostasis was mediated by vagal and splanchnic afferents. GLP-1 has a direct effect in parameters involved in glucose sensing in the hindbrain, whereas, in the hypothalamus, changes occurred indirectly through hyperglycaemia. Moreover, in the hindbrain, GLP-1 altered the expression of peptides involved in the control of food intake. We have elaborated a model for the actions of GLP-1 in fish in which this peptide uses a mammalian-like ancestral gut-brain axis to elicit the regulation of glucose homeostasis in different manner than the model described in mammals. Finally, it is worth noting that the hyperglycaemia induced by this peptide and the lack of incretin function could be related to the glucose intolerance observed in carnivorous teleost fish species such as the rainbow trout.

Hormones and receptors in fish: do duplicates matter?

Modern fish are the result of major changes in evolution including three possible duplications of the whole genome. Retained duplicate genes are often involved with metabolism, transcription, neurogenic processes and development. Here we examine the consequences of the most recent (350 mya) teleost-specific duplication in five fishes (zebrafish, fugu, medaka, stickleback and rainbow trout) in regard to duplicate copies of hormones and receptors in the secretin superfamily. This subset of genes was selected as the superfamily is limited to ten hormones and their receptors and includes some important members: glucagon, growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). We used reports from the literature and an extensive database search of the fish genomes to evaluate the status of the superfamily and its duplicate genes. We found that all five fish species have an almost complete set of orthologs with the human superfamily of hormones, although they lack secretin and its receptor. Receptor orthologs are present in zebrafish, fugu, medaka, stickleback and to a lesser extent in salmonids. Zebrafish retain duplicate copies for seven hormones and five receptors. Duplicated genes in fugu, medaka, stickleback and salmonids are also present, based mainly on genome annotation or mRNA transcription. Separate chromosome locations and synteny support zebrafish duplicates as the result of large-scale duplications. Novel changes in fish include the modification of a duplicate glucagon receptor to a GLP-1 receptor and, unlike humans, the presence of bioactive and specific PHI and GHRH-like peptide receptors. We conclude that fish duplicates in the secretin superfamily are a rich, mostly unexplored area for endocrine research.

Insulin regulation of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity and expression in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata)

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is a key enzyme in lipoprotein metabolism by virtue of its capacity to hydrolyze triglycerides circulating in the form of lipoprotein particles. Here we analyzed the fasting effects of LPL in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) and also present the first study in fish of the role of insulin as a potential modulator of both LPL activity and expression. Fasting for 2 weeks provoked a clear decrease in adipose tissue LPL activity, concomitant with lower levels of plasma insulin, while no effects were observed in red muscle. To elucidate the specific role of insulin, increases of plasma insulin were experimentally induced by arginine and insulin injections. However, arginine predominantly stimulated glucagon over insulin secretion in this fish species while LPL activity did not change significantly in adipose tissue. Instead, insulin administration induced an increase in adipose tissue LPL activity 3 h after the injection, whereas LPL activity in red muscle was not affected. Changes in LPL activity were accompanied by an increase in LPL mRNA levels in the adipose tissue of insulin-injected gilthead sea bream, although changes in LPL expression were delayed in time with respect to variations in LPL activity. Finally, LPL mRNA levels in red muscle were similar between control and insulin-injected gilthead sea bream, suggesting that insulin does not play a direct role in the regulation of LPL in this tissue. The current study shows that LPL activity is regulated by nutritional condition and underscores the importance of insulin as a modulator of LPL activity and expression in the adipose tissue of gilthead sea bream.

Regulation of lipolysis in isolated adipocytes of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): the role of insulin and glucagon

In the present study, we have examined the effects of insulin and glucagon on the lipolysis of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). To this end, adipocytes were isolated from mesenteric fat and incubated in the absence (basal lipolysis) or presence of different concentrations of insulin and glucagon. In addition, to further elucidate the effects of these hormones in vivo on adipocyte lipolysis, both fasting and intraperitoneal glucagon injection experiments were performed. Basal lipolysis, measured as the glycerol released in the adipocyte medium, increased proportionally with cell concentration and incubation time. Cell viability was verified by measuring the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in the medium. Insulin (at doses of 35 and 350 nM) decreased lipolysis in isolated adipocytes of rainbow trout in vitro, while glucagon was clearly lipolytic at concentrations of 10 and 100 nM. Furthermore, hypoinsulinemia induced by fasting, as well as glucagon injection, significantly increased lipolysis in isolated adipocytes approximately 1.5- and 1.4-fold, respectively, when compared with adipocytes from control fish. Our data demonstrate that lipolysis, as measured in isolated adipocytes of rainbow trout, can be regulated by both insulin and glucagon. These results not only indicate that insulin is an important hormone in lipid deposition via its anti-lipolytic effects on rainbow trout adipocytes, but also reveal glucagon as a lipolytic hormone, as shown by both in vitro and in vivo experiments.

Hormones and fish hepatocyte metabolism: “the good, the bad and the ugly!”

This short review examines some of my personal experiences with Dr. Peter Hochachka, as a mentor and friend, and how his encouragement led to the research undertaken in my laboratory over the past three decades. Specifically, our work using the fish hepatocyte preparation as a model cell system is reviewed. The hepatocyte is an ideal cellular system that can be used to probe hepatic physiology and biochemistry. The impact of insulin, glucagon and related peptides, and catecholamines is discussed from the perspective of core and diverse functions of these key vertebrate metabolic hormones. Each hormone that operates in fish species was studied in manners similar to that of mammals, but it appears that the role of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) in particular differs substantially from that in mammals. The receptors for each of these fish hormones seem structurally and in some cases functionally quite distinct from those in mammals. Few fish hormone receptor sequences are available, but fish genomists are rapidly adding new sequence information to the existing databases, so our view of the evolution of vertebrate hormone receptors will become clearer very quickly.

Relationships between obesity and metabolic hormones in the "cobalt" variant of rainbow trout

The "cobalt" variant of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) lacks most of the pars intermedia of the pituitary, and shows significant obesity with an enlarged liver and a fat accumulation in the abdominal cavity. Plasma levels of growth hormone, prolactin, and somatolactin were significantly lower in the cobalt variant than those in the normal trout. In contrast, plasma insulin level was four times higher than that in the normal. Plasma levels of total protein, free cholesterol, and triacylglycerol were higher in the cobalt, while those of glucose and fatty acids were not different from the normal levels. In the white muscle, red muscle, liver, and mesenteric fat, the cobalt showed higher contents of triacylglycerol than the normal fish. There was no significant difference in tissue contents of phosphatidylcholine between the two groups of the trout, except for that in the mesenteric fat, exhibiting significantly lower content than in the normal fish. Activity of triacylglycerol lipase in the liver in vivo was lower in the cobalt than that in the normal trout, while there was no significant difference between the two in the cultured liver slices. Desacetyl-alpha-MSH stimulated lipolysis of triacylglycerol similarly in the cultured liver slices from the normal trout and from the cobalt variant. Results from this study suggest that the lack of pars intermedia and the increased plasma level of insulin are involved in a depression of lipid mobilization and obesity in this variant of rainbow trout.

Glucagon effects on brain carbohydrate and ketone body metabolism of rainbow trout

The levels of glycogen in brain, lactate and acetoacetate in brain and plasma, glucose in plasma and the activities of brain key enzymes of glycogen metabolism (glycogen phosphorylase, GPase, glycogen synthetase, GSase), gluconeogenesis (fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase, FBPase), and glycolysis (6-phosphofructo 1-kinase, PFK) were evaluated in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, from 0.5 to 3 hr after intraperitoneal injection of 1 ml/kg(-1) body weight of saline alone (controls) or containing bovine glucagon at three different doses: 10, 50, and 100 ng/g(-1) body weight. The results obtained demonstrate, for the first time in a teleost fish, the existence of changes in brain carbohydrate and ketone body metabolism following peripheral glucagon treatment. A clear stimulation of brain glycogenolytic potential was observed after glucagon treatment, as judged by the time- and dose-dependent changes observed in brain glycogen levels (up to 88% decrease), and GPase (up to 30% increase) and GSase (up to 42% decrease) activities. In addition, clear time- and dose-dependent increased and decreased levels were observed in brain of glucagon-treated rainbow trout for lactate (up to 60% increase) and acetoacetate (up to 67% decrease), respectively. In contrast, no significant changes were observed after glucagon treatment in those parameters related to glycolytic/gluconeogenic capacity of rainbow trout brain. Altogether, these in vivo results suggest that glucagon may play a role (direct or indirect) in the regulation of carbohydrate and ketone body metabolism in brain of rainbow trout.

Growth efficiency in transgenic tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) carrying a single copy of an homologous cDNA growth hormone

Growth hormone (GH) has been shown to have a profound impact on fish physiology and metabolism. However, detailed studies in transgenic fish have not been conducted. We have characterized the food conversion efficiency, protein profile, and biochemical correlates of growth rate in transgenic tilapia expressing the tilapia GH cDNA under the control of human cytomegalovirus regulatory sequences. Transgenic tilapia exhibited about 3.6-fold less food consumption than nontransgenic controls (P < 0.001). The food conversion efficiency was significantly (P < 0.05) higher (290%) in transgenic tilapia (2.3 +/- 0.4) than in the control group (0.8 +/- 0.2). Efficiency of growth, synthesis retention, anabolic stimulation, and average protein synthesis were higher in transgenic than in nontransgenic tilapia. Distinctive metabolic differences were found in transgenic juvenile tilapia. We had found differences in hepatic glucose, and in agreement with previous results we observed differences in the level of enzymatic activities in target organs. We conclude that GH-transgenic juvenile tilapia show altered physiological and metabolic conditions and are biologically more efficient.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 activates the adenylyl cyclase system in rockfish enterocytes and brain membranes

Glucagon-like peptide (GLP) exerts important physiological functions in fish liver, but extrahepatic sites of action and physiological roles have been largely ignored. We show here that GLP activates adenylyl cyclase in isolated brain and enterocyte membranes and increases cellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels in isolated enterocytes of rockfish (Sebastes caurinus). Following exposure to synthetic zebrafish GLP (zf-GLP) (1 nM-1 microM), a concentration-dependent increase in enterocyte cAMP is noted. The maximum increase in cAMP levels is observed at 1 microM zf-GLP, and represents a 30% increase above control values. Exendin-4, a GLP receptor agonist in mammals, elicits a similar concentration-dependent increase in enterocyte cAMP. In contrast, norepinephrine or prostaglandin E2 (at 1 microM) increased cAMP levels by 2 and 4-fold, respectively. Brain membrane adenylyl cyclase is activated 20-40% by zf-GLP, and to a smaller extent by zf-glucagon, while exendin-4 is as effective as zf-GLP at a dose of 100 nM. These results suggest potential physiological roles of GLP in brain and intestine in piscine systems analogous to GLP-1 functions in these tissues described for mammals.

The influence of corticosterone and glucagon on metabolic recovery from exhaustive exercise in the desert iguana Dipsosaurus dorsalis

The skeletal muscles of ectothermic vertebrates possess an elevated glyconeogenic capacity that is responsible for a major portion of lactate removal and glycogen resynthesis following exercise. In lizards, changes in plasma hormone levels and the influence of differing hormone levels on muscle metabolism postexercise are poorly understood. We measured the effects of 5 min of exhaustive exercise on plasma levels of glucagon and corticosterone in the desert iguana Dipsosaurus dorsalis. We also determined the extent to which these hormones influence, or are influenced by, postexercise plasma lactate concentrations postexercise. Exercise resulted in the accumulation of 20 mM blood lactate, while plasma glucose levels remained stable throughout 90 min of recovery. Plasma glucagon was elevated sevenfold during 5 min of exercise and returned to resting levels within 45 min of recovery. Glucagon stimulated lactate incorporation into glycogen in isolated red muscle fiber bundles. Plasma corticosterone was also elevated to three times normal resting values, but only after 45 min of recovery. Blocking corticosterone elevation with metyrapone did not alter the kinetics of plasma lactate removal. In lizards, the dramatic rise in plasma glucagon occurs at the same time as previously reported elevated skeletal muscle glyconeogenesis and elevated glucagon stimulates lactate removal in vitro, strongly suggesting a role for glucagon in postexercise skeletal muscle metabolism.

Glucagon and glucagon-like peptides in fishes

Glucagon and glucagon-like peptides (GLPs) are coencoded in the vertebrate proglucagon gene. Large differences exist between fishes and other vertebrates in gene structure, peptide expression, peptide chemistry, and function of the hormones produced. Here we review selected aspects of glucagon and glucagon-like peptides in vertebrates with special focus on the contributions made by analysis of piscine systems. Our topics range from the history of discovery to gene structure and expression, through primary structures and regulation of plasma concentrations to physiological effects and message transduction. In fishes, the pancreas synthesizes glucagon and GLP-1, while the intestine may contribute oxyntomodulin, glucagon, GLP-1, and GLP-2. The pancreatic gene is short and lacks the sequence for GLP-2. GLP-1, which is produced exclusively in its biologically active form, is a potent metabolic hormone involved in regulation of liver glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis. The responsiveness of isolated hepatocytes to glucagon is limited to high concentrations, while physiological concentrations of GLP-1 effectively regulate hepatic metabolism. Plasma concentrations of GLP-1 are higher than those of glucagon, and liver is identified as the major site of removal of both hormones from fish plasma. Ultimately, GLP-1 and glucagon exert effects on glucose metabolism that directly and indirectly oppose several key actions of insulin. Both glucagon and GLP-1 show very weak insulinotropic activity, if any, when tested on fish pancreas. Intracellular message transduction for glucagon, especially at slightly supraphysiological concentrations, involves cAMP and protein kinase A, while pathways for GLP are largely unknown and may involve a multitude of messengers, including cAMP. In spite of fundamental differences in GLP-1 function between fishes and mammals, fish GLP-1 is as powerful an insulinotropin for mammalian B-cells as mammalian GLP-1 is a metabolic hormone if tested on piscine liver.

Structure and biological activity of glucagon and glucagon-like peptide from a primitive bony fish, the bowfin (Amia calva)

The bowfin, Amia calva (order Amiiformes) occupies an important position in phylogeny as a surviving representative of a group of primitive ray-finned fishes from which the present-day teleosts may have evolved. Glucagon and glucagon-like peptide (GLP) were isolated from an extract of bowfin pancreas and their primary structures determined. Bowfin glucagon shows only four amino acid substitutions compared with human glucagon, and bowfin glucagon was equipotent and equally effective as human glucagon in stimulation of glycogenolysis in dispersed hepatocytes from a teleost fish, the copper rockfish, Sebastes caurinus. In contrast, bowfin GLP shows 15 amino acid substitutions and three amino acid deletions compared with the corresponding region of human GLP-1-(7-37)-peptide. In particular, the bowfin peptide contains an N-terminal tyrosine residue rather than the N-terminal histidine residue found in all other glucagon-related peptides so far characterized. Bowfin GLP stimulated glycogenolysis in rockfish hepatocytes, but was 3-fold less effective and 23-fold less potent than human GLP-1-(7-37)-peptide. We speculate that selective mutations in the GLP domain of bowfin preproglucagon may be an adaptive response to the previously demonstrated low biological potency of bowfin insulin.

Glucagon-like peptide-I-(7-37) suppresses hyperglycemia in rats

Glucagon-like peptide-(GLP) I-(7-37) is an endogenous hormone that has recently been demonstrated to be a potent insulin secretagogue. In these studies, GLP was administered during oral and intravenous (IV) glucose tolerance tests (OGTT and IVGTT, respectively) to determine whether this peptide could enhance postprandial insulin levels and thus reduce glycemic excursions. Surprisingly, during OGTT, GLP administration did not augment insulin secretion; however, GLP administration resulted in significantly lower glycemic excursions. In fasted rats, glycemic excursions were significantly reduced 10 and 20 minutes after receiving GLP (P < .001). Fed rats that received GLP had virtually no initial increase in plasma glucose level after administration of oral glucose. During IVGTT, glucose alone increased insulin levels eightfold, while administration of both glucose and GLP resulted in a 15-fold increase (P < .001). These IVGTT data support previous studies that show GLP to be a potent and glucose-dependent insulin secretagogue. Furthermore, all of these studies suggest that GLP reduces postprandial glycemic excursion and thus may be useful in the treatment of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Glucose-stimulated lipolysis in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, liver

Rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, were used to characterize further the influence of glucose on hepatic lipolysis. Liver was removed from fed fish, cut into 1 mm(3) pieces and incubated for up to 5 h in Hanks medium containing either 2 mM, 5.5 mM, 10 mM, or 25 mM glucose. Glucose-stimulated lipolysis was indicated by tissue triacylglycerol (TG) lipase activity and by medium concentrations of glycerol and fatty acids (FA). Triacylglycerol lipase activity in liver pieces incubated in the presence of higher concentrations (25 mM) of glucose was significantly higher than that in liver pieces incubated in lower concentrations (2 mM) of glucose, rising from 0.075 ± 0.002 (mean ± SEM) nmol FA released/h/mg protein to 0.092 ± 0.004 units. Similarly, higher concentrations of glucose stimulated significantly more FA release and glycerol release from liver pieces than that stimulated by lower concentrations of glucose. Glycerol release from liver pieces incubated in the presence of 10 mM glucose and 25 mM glucose was ca. 2-fold to 2.8-fold, respectively, higher than that from liver pieces incubated in the presence of either 2 mM or 5.5 mM glucose. Fatty acid release from liver pieces incubated in the presence of 10 mM or 25 mM glucose was ca. 1.8-fold higher than that from liver pieces incubated in the presence of either 2 mM or 5.5 mM glucose. Notably, increased glycerol release was not accompanied by a parallel increase in FA. Fatty acid reesterification was more pronounced in liver pieces exposed to higher glucose (10 mM and 25 mM) than in liver pieces exposed to lower glucose (2 mM and 5.5 mM). (14)C-incorporation studies indicated that glucose serves as a carbon source for reesterified FA in trout liver. The route of reesterification appears to be from glucose to glycerophosphate to phosphatidic acid to diacylglycerol to TG. Increasing concentrations of glucose did not affect glycerol kinase activity, indicating that glucose-stimulated lipolysis was not accompanied by increased glycerol recycling within the liver. These results suggest that glucose stimulates fatty acid reesterification and directly enhances net lipolysis in trout liver incubated in vitro.

Changes in plasma glucagon, insulin and tissue metabolites associated with prolonged fasting in brown trout (Salmo trutta fario) during two different seasons of the year

1. Pyrenean brown trout juveniles (Salmo trutta fario) were fasted for 50 days in late winter (experiment 1) and summer (experiment 2). Plasma insulin, glucagon and glucose and some metabolites in plasma and in tissues were analysed. 2. Glucagon increased significantly on the 3rd day of fasting in the winter experiment (controls 653.7 +/- 92.4 pg/ml, fasted 912.7 +/- 135.2 pg/ml), and the same tendency was observed on the 5th day in the summer experiment (controls 430.5 +/- 56.2 pg/ml, fasted 555.5 +/- 95.3 pg/ml). During this initial period of fasting, plasma glucose was maintained in both experiments (75.5 +/- 4.7-67.6 +/- 4.1 mg/100 ml), but from day 8, glucose and glucagon decreased simultaneously. 3. Insulin decreased from the beginning of fasting, reaching lowest values after 50 days of fasting (winter experiment: controls 6.4 +/- 0.3 ng/ml, fasted 1.6 +/- 0.1 ng/ml; summer experiment: controls 4.8 +/- 0.1 ng/ml, fasted 1.2 +/- 0.2 ng/ml). Glucagon/insulin molar ratio (G/I) increased after 3 days in the winter experiment (controls 0.21 +/- 0.02, fasted 0.39 +/- 0.05), while in the summer experiment, the ratio rose from day 5 and reached a peak at day 30 (controls 0.16 +/- 0.02, fasted 0.48 +/- 0.07). 4. Muscle proteins were significantly mobilized after 50 days of fasting. Visceral index decreased significantly after day 15 while liver glycogen was already significantly lower at day 8. However, in the summer experiment, a transitory increase of liver glycogen was observed at day 30, coinciding with the peak of G/I.

Effects of nutritional state, insulin, and glucagon on lipid mobilization in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

The effects of nutritional state, insulin, and glucagon on lipid mobilization were determined in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. In nutritional state experiments, fish were either fed continuously (except 24 to 36 hr prior to experimentation) with commercial trout chow or fasted for 4 weeks. Lipase activity in liver tissue isolated from fasted fish and cultured for 5 hr was greater than that in tissue isolated from fed fish and cultured. The presence of glucose (5.55 mM) in the incubation medium accentuates lipolytic activity in both liver and adipose tissue. Hormone response was assessed both in vivo and in vitro. Salmon insulin was injected into anesthetized fish (fed continuously except 24 hr prior to injections) in 10 microliters of saline/g body weight; final hormone dose was 100 ng/g body weight. Tissue and plasma were sampled 1 and 3 hr after injection. Insulin resulted in depressed plasma FA concentration and reduced hepatic triacylglycerol lipase activity. In vitro effects of hormones were evaluated by incubating liver and adipose tissue pieces in Hanks-MEM. Glucagon (bovine/porcine) directly stimulated lipid breakdown in both liver and adipose tissue. These actions were manifested by enhanced FA and glycerol released into the culture medium and by elevated triacylglycerol lipase activity. Insulin (bovine) generally appeared antilipolytic as this agent inhibited glucagon-stimulated lipase activity and glucagon-stimulated FA release. Furthermore, insulin (in the presence of glucose) reduced net lipolysis, as indicated by glycerol release, compared to control cultures. These results indicate that nutritional state and glucose are important modulators of lipid mobilization and that glucagon and insulin act directly on lipid storage sites to coordinate lipolysis in rainbow trout.

Interactive effects of high stocking density and triiodothyronine-administration on aspects of the in vivo intermediary metabolism and in vitro hepatic response to catecholamine and pancreatic hormone stimulation in brook charr, Salvelinus fontinalis

Brook charr (Salvelinus fontinalis) were maintained at one of two stocking densities (SD) (30 or 120 kg/m3) and fed either a control or a T3-supplemented (20 mg/kg) diet for 30 days in order to investigate possible interactive effects of SD and T3-administration on growth, feeding rate, food conversion efficiency, and hepatic and dark muscle enzyme activity. In addition, liver slices were incubated in vitro for 6 h with epinephrine, norepinephrine, isoproterenol, propranolol, insulin, glucagon, or somatostatin to evaluate possible SD-T3 interactive effects on hepatic responses to hormonal stimulation. Maintaining the fish at high SD appeared to increase the clearance rate of T3 from the T3-supplemented group. There was no clear evidence of SD-T3 interactive effects on growth rate, feeding rate, or food conversion efficiency, although T3-administration decreased food conversion efficiency, and high SD decreased growth and feeding rates. Of the hepatic enzymes studied, HOAD, malic enzyme, G6PDH, CS, PFK, HK, and GDH activities all showed changes suggestive of interactive SD-T3 effects. Although hepatic FBPase was stimulated by both high SD and T3-administration, there was no evidence of interactive SD-T3 effects. Dark muscle HOAD, CS, and PFK also showed SD-T3-related responses; dark muscle malic enzyme, G6PDH, HK, and GDH were unaffected by either altered SD or T3-administration. Prior treatment of the fish with T3 and high SD had significant effects on free fatty acid (ffa) release to the medium and on hepatic lipid content, but had no effect on the responses to the various endocrine agents used. Glucose release from liver slices of fish stocked at high density (both T3-supplemented and controls) was higher than that of the fish stocked at low density; with the exception of insulin and glucagon, glucose release was similar in all pre-treatment groups. The insulin- and glucagon-stimulated changes in glucose release seen in the fish fed non-supplemented diets were not found in the two groups of fish fed the T3-supplemented diets. High SD and/or T3-administration induced significant lowering of hepatic glycogen content, but there was no effect of pre-treatment on the response to any of the endocrine agents used. The data show a marked effect of SD on energy partitioning processes in brook charr and the animal's ability to respond to T3-stimulation, but provided no evidence of such effects on the liver response to the various agents used.

The effect of starvation on growth and plasma growth hormone concentrations of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

Two experiments, one using 0+ the other 1+ rainbow trout, were conducted to investigate the effect of prolonged starvation on plasma growth hormone levels. The results from both experiments were essentially the same. As expected, starvation resulted in cessation of growth and in a lower coefficient of condition, whereas fed fish continued to grow and remained in good condition. Starvation had relatively little effect on the plasma cortisol level; in one experiment levels were elevated temporarily in starved fish, although by the end of the experiment there was no longer any difference between starved and fed fish, and in the other experiment plasma cortisol levels remained very low throughout the course of the experiment in both starved and fed fish. In contrast, in both experiments starvation had a pronounced effect on the plasma growth hormone level, which rose steadily during both experiments, such that it was six times higher after 1 month of starvation in 0+ fish, and five times higher after 6 weeks of starvation in 1+ fish. Thus, paradoxically, fed fish had very low plasma growth hormone levels and grew rapidly, whereas starved fish had elevated plasma growth hormone levels but did not grow. In both experiments a strong negative correlation was observed between the plasma growth hormone level and the coefficient of condition of the fish. The results are discussed with regard to the well-established metabolic changes that occur during starvation, and it is suggested that a major role of growth hormone during starvation is to aid in the mobilisation of fatty acids and glycerol from adipose stores.

Plasma levels of insulin, glucagon and glucagon-like peptide in salmonids of different weights

Plasma levels of insulin in rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss, Atlantic salmon,Salmo salar, and Pacific coho salmon,Oncorhynchus kisutch and plasma circulating levels of glucagon and glucagon-like peptide, in rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon, were measured by homologous radioimmunoassays. Hormonal levels were compared against the average body weight of the same group of fish. Plasma insulin levels were significantly correlated (r=0.56, 0.46 and 0.42 respectively) with body weight in all three salmonid species. Moreover, rainbow trout from fast-growing families had significantly higher (p<0.005) plasma insulin levels than did fish from slow-growing families. Plasma titres of glucagon and glucagon-like peptide were always lower than insulin titres and did not correlate with body weight.

Plasma insulin, glucagon, glucagon-like peptide and glucose levels in response to feeding, starvation and life long restricted feed ration in salmonids

Plasma insulin, glucagon, glucagon-like peptide (GLP) and glucose were measured in samples taken from rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss. (1.5 years of age) before feeding and at selected times up to 9 days after feeding. The feed contained 21.7% carbohydrate (65% digestibe) in the dry matter. The fish responded to feeding with an elevated plasma insulin level (p<0.005) 0.5 h post-feeding, which may account for the unchanged plasma glucose levels. Twentyfour hours after feeding, plasma insulin level had returned to prefeeding levels, while 4-9 days after feeding, a significant reduction compared to pre-feeding levels was observed (p<0.001). During this period plasma glucose levels remained unchanged. The corresponding plasma glucagon or GLP levels showed no significant elevation in response to starvation, the plasma GLP concentration was even significantly reduced on days 4-9 post-feeding (p<0.01-0.001).Atlantic salmon,Salmo salar, (3.5 years of age) fed a calculated satiation ration (RL=100) throughout their lifetime had, in addition to a higher body weight, significantly higher plasma insulin (p<0.005) glucagon (p<0.0001) and GLP levels (p<0.0001) than fish fed half the satiation ration. The plasma glucose levels were, however, not significant different between the groups.

Somatostatin-14 and somatostatin-25 stimulate glycogenolysis in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, liver incubated in vitro: a systemic role for somatostatins

The effects of somatostatin-14 (SS-14) and salmon somatostatin-25 (sSS-25) on hepatic glycogenolysis were studied by incubating rainbow trout liver pieces in vitro. Glycogen content in untreated liver pieces cultured for 3 and 5 hr was 28.6 +/- 7.6 mg/g fresh wt. and 21.5 +/- 6.6 U, respectively. Treatment of liver pieces with either SS-14 or sSS-25 resulted in significant glycogen depletion; sSS-25 appeared more potent in this regard. Equimolar concentrations (10(-8) M) of SS-14 or sSS-25 reduced glycogen content to 10.6 +/- 1.6 and 2.6 +/- 2.2 U, respectively, in liver pieces incubated for 3 hr. Alterations in liver glycogen content were reflected in glucose release into medium. Basal release of glucose into culture medium over the course of a 3-hr incubation was 20 +/- 5.6 mumol/g dry wt. Both SS-14 and sSS-25 stimulated a rapid increase (500 and 600%, respectively) in glucose release during the first 0.5 hr of incubation. After 3 hr, SS-14 and sSS-25 stimulated glucose release over basal levels to 116 +/- 9.3 and 153 +/- 16 U, respectively. Both SS-14 and sSS-25 stimulated glucose release in a dose-dependent manner; ED50 for both peptides was ca. 5 X 10(-8) M. These results indicate that both SS-14 and sSS-25 directly mediate hepatic glycogenolysis in rainbow trout.

Interaction of salmon glucagon, glucagon-like peptide, and epinephrine in the stimulation of phosphorylase a activity in fish isolated hepatocytes

The simultaneous addition of epinephrine and salmon glucagon to catfish (Ictalurus melas) and trout (Salmo gairdneri) hepatocytes did not induce greater increases in glycogen phosphorylase a activity and in glucose release than those caused by epinephrine alone. The effects of epinephrine are greater than those of glucagon. Propranolol added to the hormonal pool blocked the epinephrine effects. In trout cells, epinephrine and glucagon-like peptide (GLP) had similar effects and when they were added simultaneously the stimulation of metabolic indices was higher compared to that obtained with either epinephrine or GLP. However, the effects were not additive. In the presence of epinephrine plus GLP the inhibitory effect of propranolol was not evident, due to the effect induced by GLP, on which propranolol was not effective. This may indicate that epinephrine masks the GLP effect. Results could mean that epinephrine and glucagon-family peptides act in catfish and trout hepatocytes through different receptors on the same pathway leading to glycogen phosphorylase a activation.

Distribution of two forms of somatostatin and peptides belonging to the pancreatic polypeptide family in tissues of larval lampreys, Petromyzon marinus L.: an immunohistochemical study

Immunohistochemistry on tissues of larval lampreys, Petromyzon marinus L., was used to determine the distribution of invariant somatostatin-14 (SST-14) and lamprey somatostatin-34 (SST-34) in the brain while antisera against porcine peptide tyrosine tyrosine (PYY), human neuropeptide Y (NPY), anglerfish peptide YG (aPY), salmon glucagon-like peptide (GLP), SST-14, and SST-34 were used in studies of the pancreas and anterior intestine. In the brain, SST-14 is the major form of somatostatin. SST-14- and SST-34-immunoreactive nerve fibers are distributed throughout the telencephalon, diencephalon, and mesencephalon. In the latter region SST-14 immunoreactivity is concentrated in nerve tracts in the nucleus interpeduncularis. Nerve cells within the olfactory bulbs are immunoreactive only to anti-SST-34. Cells immunostained with anti-SST-14 were localized within the ependymal and subependymal layers of the pars ventralis hypothalami and the subependymal layers of the pars dorsalis thalami. SST-14-immunoreactive perikarya are also distributed within the tegmentum mesencephali. Nerve fibers and cells immunoreactive to anti-SST-34 are detected in the pars ventralis hypothalami but these cells do not colocalize SST-14. Pancreatic islets, distributed within the epithelium and in the submucosal connective tissue at the esophageal-intestinal junction, are only immunoreactive to anti-insulin. The antisera revealed three distinct cell types in the intestinal epithelium: type 1 colocalizes aPY, NPY, and PYY; type 2 colocalizes SST-14 and SST-34; and type 3 demonstrates immunoreactivity only to anti-SST-34. Immunoreactivity to anti-GLP is absent.

The primary structure of glucagon-like peptide but not insulin has been conserved between the American eel, Anguilla rostrata and the European eel, Anguilla anguilla

Insulin was isolated from the pancreas of the American eel, Anguilla rostrata, and its primary structure was established as (Formula: see text). Eel insulin contains unusual substitutions at B-21, B-22, and B-26 in the putative receptor-binding region of the molecule compared with other mammalian and fish insulins. The A-chain of insulin from the European eel contains an asparagine rather than a serine residue at position A-12. Similarly, amino acid composition data indicate the B-chain of insulin from the European eel is appreciably different from that from the American eel. The primary structure of glucagon-like peptide (GLP) from the American eel is identical to that from the European eel, Anguilla anguilla. The primary structure of the peptide was established as (Formula: see text). Fast-atom bombardment mass spectrometry demonstrated that the COOH-terminal arginyl residue is alpha-amidated. The strong evolutionary pressure to conserve the structure of GLP provides further support for the assertion that the peptide plays an important regulatory role in teleost fish.

Changes in plasma glucagon and insulin associated with fasting in sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

Juvenile sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) were fasted for 22 days and changes in plasma insulin, glucagon and glucose levels, as well as glycogen and protein content in liver and muscle were analyzed. Glucagon increased initially on the 4th day of fasting. The glucagon/insulin ratio (G/I) increased from a value of 0.11±0.02 (24h of fasting) to 0.21±0.05 (4th day of fasting). Thereafter, both glucagon and insulin levels decreased and remained at low concentrations until the 22nd day of fasting. Plasma glucose levels fell at the beginning of fasting, stabilized between the 4th and 8th day, and gradually declined during the rest of the experiment. There was a body weight loss of 15% and a significant decrease in both the hepatosomatic index and mesenteric fat. The decrease in the percentage of muscle proteins was not significant, while liver glycogen content showed a sharp decline.

Effects of nutritional state on in vivo lipid and carbohydrate metabolism of coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch

Juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) were placed on five dietary regimes: fed 1 week, fasted 1 week, fed 3 weeks, fasted 3 weeks, and fasted 1 week/refed 2 weeks. Plasma levels of glucose, fatty acids, insulin, glucagon, and glucagon-like peptide (GLP) and the activities of key metabolic enzymes were determined. Plasma glucose levels in the fed control groups were 98.4 +/- 3.4 (SEM) and 104.8 +/- 4.7 mg/dl at 1 and 3 weeks, respectively. Plasma glucose in the fasted 1 week group was significantly elevated to 128.8 +/- 9.2 mg/dl. Animals fasted 3 weeks or fasted 1 week/refed 2 weeks displayed plasma glucose levels similar to those of fed animals. Fasted groups possessed significantly less liver glycogen than fed or fasted/refed groups. Plasma fatty acids were elevated only after 3 weeks of fasting (from 0.39 +/- 0.04 microEq/ml to 0.61 +/- 0.06 microEq/ml). This response was reflected in elevated liver lipase activity (from 6.02 +/- 0.44 nmol fatty acid released/hr/mg protein to 14.22 +/- 0.90 units). No significant alterations in liver lipogenesis, assessed by glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity and by 3H2O incorporation into fatty acids, were observed. Gluconeogenic flux, determined indirectly through kinetic parameters of pyruvate kinase, was enhanced in animals fasted 3 weeks and in animals recovering from a 1-week fast. Plasma insulin levels were highest in fed groups (7.7 +/- 2.3 and 5.9 +/- 1.4 ng/ml at 1 week and 3 weeks, respectively) and were significantly depressed in fasted groups. Plasma levels of glucagon and GLP were also depressed in fasted groups. These results indicate that plasma glucose levels are maintained in salmon during fasting and that fasting-induced hyperlipidemia is mediated by lipolytic enzyme activity. Insulin, glucagon, and GLP may interact with these enzyme systems to coordinate nutritional metabolism of fish.

Insulin and glucagon family peptides in relation to activities of hepatic hexokinase and other enzymes in fed and starved Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and cod (Gadus morhua)

1. Plasma levels of insulin, glucagon, and glucagon-like peptide (Glp) were all reduced by starvation of salmon and cod. In the salmon the drop in Glp was larger than in insulin and glucagon. 2. After starvation the activity of hexokinase (EC 2.7.1.1) was increased in salmon liver, but decreased in cod liver. The salmon hepatic hexokinase activity was inversely correlated with the Glp/insulin ratio. 3. Activities of hepatic glycogen phosphorylase (EC 2.4.1.1) and phosphofructokinase (EC 2.7.1.11) were increased in starved as compared to fed salmon. In cod, starvation resulted in decreased or unchanged activity of phosphorylase. This discrepancy may be related to different degrees of environmental and handling stress. 4. Intraperitoneal injection of human insulin in salmon gave increased hepatic phosphorylase and hexokinase activities and reduced plasma levels of glucagon, Glp and endogenous fish insulin at sampling after 30 hr. 5. No differences in hepatic hexokinase activities or plasma hormone levels were observed between cod fed low and high carbohydrate diets. Apparently, regulation of glucose phosphorylation by dietary carbohydrate does not occur.

Distribution of two forms of somatostatin in the brain, anterior intestine, and pancreas of adult lampreys (Petromyzon marinus)

The distribution of two major immunoreactive forms of somatostatin, somatostatin-14 and somatostatin-34, within the brain, pancreas and intestine of adult lampreys, Petromyzon marinus, was identified using antisera raised against these peptides. Immunostaining of the brain is similar in juveniles and upstream migrants, and somatostatin-14 is the major somatostatin form demonstrated. A few somatostatin-34-containing cells are localized within the olfactory bulbs, thalamus and hypothalamus, but cells immunoreactive to anti-somatostatin-34 in the hypothalamus and thalamus do not co-localize somatostatin-14. Immunostaining of pinealocytes within the pineal pellucida with anti-somatostatin-14 may infer a novel function for this structure. Somatostatin-14 and somatostatin-34 are co-localized within D-cells of the cranial pancreas and caudal pancreas of juveniles and upstream migrants. Numerous somatostatin-34-immunoreactive cells are distributed within the epithelial mucosa of the anterior intestine but not all of these cells cross-react with anti-somatostatin-14. It appears that somatostatin-34 is the major somatostatin in the pancreo-gastrointestinal system of adult lampreys.

The role of glycogen phosphorylase in the regulation of glycogenolysis by insulin and glucagon in isolated eel (Anguilla rostrata) hepatocytes

The effects of porcine, scombroid, and salmon insulins, and bovine and anglerfish glucagons on glycogen depletion and glycogen phosphorylase (GPase) activities were examined in freshly isolated American eel (Anguilla rostrata) hepatocytes. Eel liver GPase in crude homogenates was activated (increase in % GPase a) by phosphorylating conditions and was rapidly inactivated (less than 1 h) when a phosphatase inhibitor (fluoride) was absent. Caffeine inhibits, and AMP activates, the b form of GPase consistent with their effects on rat liver GPase. Both mammalian and fish glucagons increased glucose production in eel hepatocytes, but had more ambiguous effects on glycogen levels and GPase activities. The magnitude of bovine glucagon effects were dependent on the initial glycogen content of the cells; only at glycogen concentrations less than approximately 70 μmoles.g(-1) did glucagon significantly increase % GPase a. Anglerfish glucagon significantly increased cyclic AMP (cAMP) concentrations by 90% at 10(-7) M, but had no effects at 10(-9) M and 10(-8) M. Scombroid and salmon insulins maintained hepatocyte glycogen concentrations and decreased glucose production, with these effects more pronounced at low (10(-9) to 10(-8) M) rather than high (10(-7) M) hormone concentrations. Porcine and salmon insulins decreased total GPase and % GPase a activities, and salmon insulin decreased CAMP levels, but only at 10(-8) M (by 44%).Glycogen is, therefore, depleted by glucagon and maintained by insulin in freshly isolated American eel hepatocytes, and these changes are accomplished, at least in part, by changes in the activities of GPase. Changes in cAMP do not explain all of the observed hormone effects.

Glycogenolytic action of glucagon-family peptides and epinephrine on catfish hepatocytes

Glycogenolytic effects of salmon and mammalian glucagons, salmon glucagon-like peptide (GLP) and epinephrine were studied on liver cells isolated from catfish (Ictalurus melas). In spring and summer, salmo-glucagon (3×10(-10) to 3×10(-8) M) was more effective than its mammalian counterpart in the stimulation of glucose release and cAMP synthesis in hepatocytes. GLP was less potent as compared to both glucagons. γ-amylase activity was not affected by the treatment with either glucagon-family peptides or epinephrine.The comparison of the glycogenolytic effects of salmon glucagon to those of epinephrine reveals a greater potency of the latter hormone in the stimulation of cAMP synthesis, glycogen-phosphorylase activity and glucose release. Glycogen content in the liver cells was equally depleted after treatment with both of the two hormones.

Pancreatic and thyroid hormones in rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri): what concentration does the liver see?

Blood was sampled within 1 min from the hepatic portal vein, caudal vein, and heart (bulbus arteriosus) of individual rainbow trout (N = 26). Blood plasma levels of the pancreatic hormones, insulin, glucagon, and glucagon-like peptide (GLP) and the thyroid hormones, thyroxin and 3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine, were measured by specific radioimmunoassays. Blood levels of insulin, glucagon, and GLP were significantly higher in the portal vein than in either the caudal vein or heart. Thyroid hormone concentrations did not vary between blood vessels. Based on the higher hormone titers in portal blood as compared to blood sampled from the other sites, the liver appears to be exposed to concentrations of pancreatic hormones that are three- to eightfold higher than those experienced by other tissues. There was no statistically significant difference between the caudal vein or the heart in blood concentrations of the different pancreatic hormones, although the average concentration of GLP was higher in the heart (0.22 +/- 0.03 ng/ml) than in the caudal vein (0.15 +/- 0.03 ng/ml). The molar ratio of average blood insulin/GLP concentrations was lower in the heart (3.9) than in either the hepatic portal vein (6.9) or the caudal vein (7.2), which may be favorable for potential physiological effects of GLP on the heart and gills. The results of this study imply some role for GLP in the regulation of cardiac and gill metabolism or function. The higher hormonal titers to which fish liver, as compared to other target tissues, is exposed should be taken into account when a dosage of pancreatic hormones is calculated for in vivo or in vitro experiments.

Physiology of fish endocrine pancreas

From the very beginning of physiological studies on the endocine pancreas, fish have been used as experimental subjects. Fish insulin was one of the first vertebrate insulins isolated and one of the first insulins whose primary and then tertiary structures were reported. Before a second pancreatic hormone, glucagon, was characterized, a physiologically active 'impurity', similar to that in mammalian insulin preparations, was found in fish insulins.Fish have become the most widely used model for studies of biosynthesis and processing of the pancreatic hormones. It seems inconceivable, therefore, that until the recent past cod and tuna insulins have been the only purified piscine islet hormones available for physiological experiments. The situation has changed remarkably during the last decade.In this review the contemporary status of physiological studies on the fish pancreas is outlined with an emphasis on the following topics: 1) contents of pancreatic peptides in plasma and in islet tissue; 2) actions of piscine pancreatic hormones in fish; 3) specific metabolic consequences of an acute insufficiency of pancreatic peptides; 4) functional interrelations among pancreatic peptides which differ from those of mammals. The pitfalls, lacunae and the perspectives of contemporary physiological studies on fish endocrine pancreas are outlined.