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A possible implication of endogenously released ATP and (or) ADP in insulin response to glucose stimulation was investigated in the isolated rat pancreas. The first phase of insulin response to the same glucose concentration (8.3 mM) was much higher in pancreas previously perfused in the absence of glucose than in pancreas previously perfused with 4.2 mM glucose. A P2 purinoceptor antagonist, 2,2'-pyridylisatogen tosylate, strongly reduced the higher first phase resulting from glucose deprivation; similarly, it reduced exogenous ATP-potentiated insulin response to a glucose increase from 4.2 to 8.3 mM. In contrast, 2,2'-pyridylisatogen tosylate did not modify the first phase of insulin response to 8.3 or 12.5 mM glucose in pancreas previously perfused with 4.2 mM glucose. Our results suggest that endogenous ATP and (or) ADP released in pancreatic islets in the absence of glucose could activate P2 purinoceptors and increase the magnitude of the first phase of insulin response to a glucose stimulation.

1. In vivo effect of a P2y-purinoceptor agonist, adenosine-5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (ADP beta S), on insulin secretion and glycaemia were studied both in rats and dogs. 2. In anaesthetized rats, i.v. administered ADP beta S (0.2 mg kg-1) produced an insulin response dependent on the nutritional state of the animals, since we observed only a transient increase in overnight-fasted rats and a sustained insulin secretion followed by a reduction in plasma glucose levels in fed rats. During an i.v. glucose tolerance test, ADP beta S enhanced insulin release and thus increased the glucose disappearance rate. 3. In anaesthetized fasted dogs, i.v. administered ADP beta S (0.1 mg kg-1) increased pancreaticoduodenal insulin output and slightly decreased blood glucose levels. 4. In conscious fasted dogs, orally administered ADP beta S (0.1 mg kg-1) transiently increased insulinemia and punctually reduced glycaemia. Furthermore, during an oral glucose tolerance test, orally administered ADP beta S at the same dose markedly enhanced insulin secretion and consequently reduced the hyperglycaemia. 5. In conclusion, the P2y-agonist, ADP beta S, is a potent insulin secretagogue in vivo, improves glucose tolerance and is effective after oral administration. Thus, the P2y-purinoceptors of the beta cell may be a target for new antidiabetic drugs.

We studied the involvement of Bordetella pertussis toxin (PTX)-sensitive G proteins in the inhibition by adrenaline of insulin secretion from the isolated rat pancreas. The -90% inhibition induced by adrenaline (0.05 microM) was partially abolished after in vivo PTX pretreatment. The residual inhibitory effect of adrenaline in PTX-pretreated rats was suppressed by the alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist, yohimbine, but was not modified by the alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist, prazosin. Thus, the alpha 2-inhibitory effect of adrenaline on B-cells is mediated by both PTX-sensitive and PTX-insensitive mechanisms.

1. To investigate the effect of experimental diabetes on the P2y purinoceptor responses of pancreatic beta-cells and vascular bed, we used adenosine-5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (ADP beta S), a potent and stable P2y agonist. This work was performed in the isolated perfused pancreas of the rat. 2. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (66 mg kg-1, i.p.). Five weeks after the induction of diabetes, on the day of pancreas isolation, the animals displayed marked hyperglycaemia (37.6 +/- 2.7 mM). Age-matched rats were used as controls. 3. Insulin response to a glucose stimulation from 5 to 10 mM was completely lost and stimulation of insulin release by the sulphonylurea, tolbutamide (185 microM), was drastically impaired in the diabetic pancreas (maximum responses were 1.5 +/- 0.4 and 7.0 +/- 1.4 ng min-1 for diabetic and age-matched rats respectively). 4. In contrast, in the diabetic pancreas ADP beta S (15 microM), infused in the presence of glucose 5 mM, elicited an immediate and significant insulin release similar to that observed in the age-matched pancreas (maximum responses were 7.6 +/- 1.5 and 6.7 +/- 1.3 ng min-1 respectively). This ADP beta S stimulating effect occurred independently of the glucose concentration (5, 8.3 and 28 mM) in the diabetic pancreas. On pancreatic vascular resistance, ADP beta S induced a similar vasodilatation in diabetic and age-matched rats. 5. In conclusion, ADP beta S retains its insulin stimulatory and vasodilator effects in experimental diabetes; P2y purinoceptors could therefore be considered as a new target for the development of antidiabetic drugs.

Streptozotocin-induced diabetes is accompanied by an increase in insulin-like immunoreactivity concentration in rat submandibular salivary glands. In this study we have examined whether, in normal state, maturation is accompanied by changes in insulin-like immunoreactivity concentration of rat submandibular salivary glands. Insulin-like immunoreactivity concentrations of submandibular salivary glands were significantly higher in 11 months old rats compared with 3.5 months old control animals. A pertussis toxin pretreatment provoked an increase in insulin-like immunoreactivity, suggesting that a pertussis toxin sensitive G-protein is involved in the regulation of insulin-like immunoreactivity in the rat submandibular salivary glands.

It has been proposed that mastoparan (INLKALAALAKKIL) and other mast cell secretagogues such as substance P (SP) or compound 48/80 act by direct activation of the pertussis toxin (PTX)-sensitive G-proteins in intact cells. Here we have investigated whether or not the antagonists of SP, [D-Trp7,9,10] SP1-11 and [D-Trp7,9,10, N-leu11]SP1-11, can similarly induce exocytosis from RINm5F cells. In intact cells mastoparan and the SP antagonists stimulated insulin release in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations ranging from 10 to 100 microM. The maximal effect on insulin release, of both mastoparan and the SP antagonists was comparable to that obtained with 100 microM forskolin. Pretreatment of the intact cells, for 18 h with PTX or 6 h with cholera toxin, did not change the responses induced by both mastoparan and the SP antagonists. This absence of PTX effect, despite the fact that the three PTX substrates at 41, 40 and 39 kDa were ADP ribosylated after pretreatment suggests intrinsic differences between mast and RINm5F cells. Thus the SP antagonists behave similarly to mastoparan in its ability to induce insulin release in RINm5F cells. However, the higher concentrations required with RINm5F cells compared to that needed for mast cells suggest differences either in G-proteins composition or in the phospholipid composition of the membranes.

The effects of ATP on the pancreatic vascular bed of the rat were studied under resting tone. ATP exerted two different effects depending on the concentration used: a slight vasodilatation in the 1.65-49.5 microM range which was statistically significant only at 16.5 microM and a concentration-related vasoconstriction in the 495-4 950 microM range. Theophylline, a P1 purinoceptor antagonist, did not modify the vasodilator effect of ATP. The existence of two P2 purinoceptor subtypes (P2y and P2x) in our preparation may be responsible for the dual effect of ATP. The P2y antagonist 2,2'pyridylisatogen (PIT) used at 5 microM, revealed a vasoconstrictor effect of ATP 165 microM, a concentration without effect per se. Furthermore, the transient vasoconstrictor effect of ATP 495 microM was changed into a long-lasting one in the presence of PIT. On the other hand, the blockade of P2x purinoceptors by the desensitizing agent, alpha,beta-methylene ATP, increased the vasodilator effect of ATP 16.5 microM. In conclusion, two subtypes of P2 purinoceptor do exist on the pancreatic vascular bed: P2y inducing vasodilatation and P2x inducing vasoconstriction. At vascular resting tone, the effect observed with ATP therefore depends on the concentration used and on the balance between P2y/P2x purinoceptors.

In the anaesthetized dog, porcine pancreastatin (98 pmol/min) was infused for 10 min into the pancreaticoduodenal artery either alone or during infusion of glucose. Blood was sampled from the pancreaticoduodenal vein. We found that pancreastatin inhibited pancreatic insulin output only under normoglycaemic conditions. Furthermore, pancreastatin significantly stimulated pancreatic glucagon and somatostatin outputs both during normo- and hyperglycaemic conditions. Our results show that pancreastatin has the capability to affect directly the three pancreatic hormone secretions in dogs.

The effect of a benzothiadiazine derivative LN 5330, structurally related to diazoxide, was investigated on the vascular flow rate of the isolated perfused rat pancreas. LN 5330 induced a progressive increase of the vascular flow rate, which lasted throughout the infusion. This effect was dose-dependent between 10(-5) and 10(-4) M. LN 5330 was seven times less potent than diazoxide at increasing the flow rate. These results show that LN 5330 has a vasodilator effect on pancreatic vascular bed, and is less potent than its structural analogue diazoxide.

The effects of L- and D-phenylisopropyladenosine (L- and D-PIA) were studied on glucose-induced insulin secretion from the isolated perfused rat pancreas. L-PIA at the low dose of 16.5 nM inhibited insulin secretion by 50%. In contrast, D-PIA at 16.5 and 82.5 nM was ineffective. D-PIA used at a 100-fold higher concentration (1.65 microM) than L-PIA induced a similar inhibition of insulin secretion. The inhibitory effect of L-PIA was abolished by 8-phenyltheophylline (1 microM), a potent P1 purinoceptor antagonist. The present experiments provide evidence for an adenosine receptor of the A1 subtype on the insulin-secreting pancreatic cell of rats.

To investigate whether systemic insulin levels can influence somatostatin-like immunoreactivity and insulin-like immunoreactivity concentrations in the rat submandibular salivary glands, we measured the concentrations of the two peptides in an experimental group rendered diabetic by streptozotocin administration. The diabetic group showed a low plasma level of insulin compared with the control group: 0.5 +/- 0.1 vs 3.5 +/- 0.8 micrograms/l, (P less than 0.01). Concomitantly, they exhibited clear glucosuria and a blood glucose level which was four times higher than in normal animals: 35.5 +/- 1.4 vs 8.8 +/- 0.8 mmol/l, (P less than 0.001). The two peptide concentrations in the submandibular glands of diabetic rats showed an increase compared with controls: 42.9 +/- 4.7 protein vs 24.7 +/- 3.1 pg/mg protein (P less than 0.001) and 34.9 +/- 4.9 protein vs 18.4 +/- 4.0 pg/mg protein (P less than 0.01), for insulin-like immunoreactivity concentration and somatostatin-like immunoreactivity concentration, respectively. Chronic insulin treatment of diabetic rats reversed the increase in somatostatin, but had no effect on the increase in insulin-like immunoreactivity concentration. A negative correlation (r = 0.24, P less than 0.05) was found between the plasma insulin level and the somatostatin concentration of the submandibular glands. Our results suggest that the submandibular glands of rats may participate in the peripheral regulation of glucose homeostasis.

Yohimbine hydrochloride, an alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist, was administered (3.3 mg/kg i.v.) to anesthetized normal dogs provided with a T-shaped catheter inserted in the pancreaticoduodenal vein. The effects on blood glucose levels and pancreatic hormones were investigated. We show that yohimbine induced an immediate and pronounced stimulatory effect on insulin secretion accompanied by a clear decrease in blood glucose levels. Yohimbine also stimulated the pancreatic secretion of somatostatin and glucagon. However, the secretion kinetics were not the same for the three hormones: the stimulation was rapid and immediate for insulin and somatostatin, whereas it was progressive for glucagon. All these stimulatory effects were suppressed by propranolol, thus implicating beta-adrenergic mechanisms. Bilateral cervical vagotomy markedly reduced the immediate effect of yohimbine on insulin secretion, suggesting that a central neural pathway was implicated. In contrast, the progressive elevation in glucagon secretion was not decreased by vagotomy. Our results suggest that yohimbine stimulates, at least in part, insulin secretion by blocking central alpha 2-adrenoceptors.

Alloxan diabetic dogs with insulin deficiency showed a transient but significant rise in glucagon levels after oral glucose load (1 g/kg). Pretreatment with atropine sulfate (0.2 mg/kg intravenously) totally suppressed this increase. So, the transient paradoxical rise of glucagon level observed in diabetic dogs after glucose intake is under cholinergic control.

The effects of clonidine were studied on insulin secretion from the isolated pancreas of the rat and newborn dog perfused in presence of 8.3 mmol/l glucose. The effects were compared to those induced by adrenalin. In the rat, clonidine and adrenalin infused for 30 minutes at 0.01 mumol/l caused an immediate and marked inhibition of insulin release (-- 79.1 +/- 2.6% for clonidine and -- 75.7 +/- 4.7% for adrenaline at the 15th minute of infusion). The inhibition due to clonidine has not completely disappeared 15 minutes after stopping the infusion. In the dog, both substances also induced an immediate and marked inhibition; but the effect of adrenalin disappeared before the end of the infusion. It follows that the inhibitory effect of clonidine on insulin secretion is more durable than that of adrenalin.

LN 5330 is a new benzothiadiazine which is a structural analogue of diazoxide. Its effects in vivo were studied on blood glucose levels and insulin, glucagon and somatostatin secretion in normal dogs, and in vitro on glucagon and insulin secretion from the isolated perfused rat pancreas. The results were compared with those obtained with diazoxide at equimolar dose or concentration. In the normal anaesthetized dog having a T-shaped catheter inserted in the pancreaticoduodenal vein, the infusion of LN 5330 (87.8 mumol/kg for 20 min) induced a progressive increase in blood glucose levels, a rapid decrease in insulin and somatostatin output rate, an immediate increase in pancreatic glucagon secretion, and a delayed decrease of arterial blood pressure. The equimolar dose of diazoxide provoked the same effects on blood glucose levels, insulin and somatostatin output, but a marked decrease in glucagon output and in arterial blood pressure. In the isolated rat pancreas perfused with 8.3 mmol/l glucose, the infusion of LN 5330 (440 mumol/l for 30 min) induced a drastic fall in insulin and a rapid and persistent increase in glucagon output. This stimulatory effect on glucagon secretion was not found with diazoxide at equimolar concentration. These findings show that LN 5330 is a substance which is distinct from diazoxide and interesting because of its double action: inhibition of insulin secretion and stimulation of glucagon secretion.

The effects of alpha-adrenergic drugs were studied on glucose-induced insulin secretion and effluent flow rate on the same preparation: the isolated perfused rat pancreas. An alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist, phenylephrine 0.05 microM slightly decreased insulin secretion (-25%); this inhibition was counteracted by an alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist, yohimbine 0.6 microM. Phenylephrine evoked a fall in liquid flow rate (-13%) which was reversed by an alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist, prazosin 6 microM, but not by yohimbine. An alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist, clonidine 0.01 and 0.05 microM decreased insulin secretion (-80%). This inhibition was reversed by yohimbine 0.6 and 6 microM respectively. Only the concentration of 0.05 microM clonidine evoked a fall (-25%) in liquid flow rate; this fall was counteracted by yohimbine 0.6 microM. In conclusion our results show that adrenergic inhibition of insulin secretion is mediated only by alpha 2-receptors whereas both types of adrenoceptors are implicated in the vasoconstrictor effect. The insulin inhibitory effect of adrenoceptor agonists is not related to vasoconstriction.