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β-cell mass dynamics play an important role in the adaptation to obesity, as well as in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. Here we used a 24-hour modified hyperglycemic clamp protocol to investigate the effect of increasing glucose concentrations (15, 20, 25, or 35 mmol/L) on β-cell mass and rates of β-cell replication, death, and neogenesis in 6-week-old Sprague Dawley rats (n = 40). During the first 4 h of glucose infusion, plasma insulin levels rose to an approximate steady state in each group, but by the end of 24 h, there was no difference in insulin levels between any of the groups. There was also no difference in β-cell mass between groups. Mean β-cell replication rates displayed a linear relationship to mean plasma glucose levels in all hyperglycemic animals (r2 = 0.98, p < 0.05). Relative to the uninfused basal control animals, replication rates were significantly reduced in the 15 mmol/L glucose group. The percentage of TUNEL-positive β-cells was not different between groups. There was also no significant difference in markers of neogenesis. Thus, these data demonstrate that hyperglycemia for 24 h had no effect on β-cell mass, death, or neogenesis in 6-week-old Sprague Dawley rats. We demonstrate a linear relationship, however, between hyperglycemia and β-cell replication rates in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ischemia-reperfusion injury in the heart results in enhanced production of H2O2 and activation of AMP- activated protein kinase (AMPK). Since mutations in AMPK result in cardiovascular dysfunction, we investigated whether the activation of AMPK mediates the H2O2-induced reduction in cardiac mechanical function. Isolated working rat hearts were perfused at 37 °C with Krebs-Henseleit solution. Following a 20-minute equilibration period, a single bolus of H2O2 (300 μmol/L) was added and the hearts were perfused for an additional 5 mm. H2O2 induced a dramatic and progressive reduction in cardiac function. This was accompanied by rapid and significant activation of AMPK, an increase in Thr- 172 phosphorylation of AMPK, and an increase in the creatine to phosphocreatine (Cr/PCr) ratio. Addition of pyruvate (5 mmol/L) to the perfusate prevented the H2O2-mediated reduction in cardiac mechanical dysfunction, activation of myocardial AMPK activity, increase in AMPK phosphorylation and the increase in the Cr/PCr ratio. Hearts challenged with H2O2 (300 μmol/L) in presence of either AMPK inhibitor Compound C (10 μmol/L) or its vehicle (dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), 0.1%) showed reduced impairment in cardiac mechanical function. Compound C but not its vehicle significantly inhibited myocardial AMPK activity. Thus, H2O2 induces cardiac dysfunction via both AMPK-dependent and independent mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]