Effect of alpha-glucosidase inhibitor on exocrine and endocrine pancreatic function in rats fed a high-carbohydrate diet consisting of sucrose or glucose.

The effect of the alpha-glucosidase inhibitor acarbose on pancreatic exocrine and endocrine function was studied using the isolated perfused pancreata prepared from rats fed a normal (control diet) or an acarbose-containing sucrose- (ACS diet) or glucose-supplemented diet (ACG diet) for 10 days. Pancreatic amylase and insulin contents in rats fed the ACS diet were significantly decreased compared with those in rats with the control diet. Rats fed the ACG diet, however, had normal enzyme and hormone contents. Basal and cerulein-stimulated flow rates of pancreatic juice in rats with the ACS or ACG diet were similar to those in rats fed the control diet, suggesting that the pancreata from rats treated with acarbose have normal sensitivity and responsiveness to cerulein. On the other hand, cerulein-stimulated amylase output was significantly decreased in rats with the ACS diet, but was normal in rats with the ACG diet. Insulin secretion to both glucose and cerulein stimulation in rats fed the ACS diet was reduced by approximately 55% compared with the control rats. On the other hand, rats fed the ACG diet showed normal insulin secretion to glucose stimulation, although the insulin response to cerulein stimulation was reduced by 30%. These results suggest that the addition of acarbose to the sucrose-rich diet decreases the secretory responsiveness of amylase to cerulein stimulation and that of insulin to both glucose and cerulein stimulation. All these alterations, except the sensitivity of B cells to cerulein, can be normalized by replacing sucrose with glucose.