Biotin-Stimulated Insulin Secretion in Biotin-Deficient Rats

The insulin secretion expressed in terms of plasma concentration in response to an oral glucose load (1.8g per kg body weight) in biotin-deficient male Wistar rats was approximately one-sixth that of pair-fed controls. However, the insulin content of the pancreas in biotin-deficient rats was no lower than that of control rats. The reduction in insulin secretion in the biotin-deficient rats was reversed to a significant extent by the simultaneous administration of biotin (1mg per kg body weight) with the glucose solution. This suggests that biotin may play an important role in the secretion of insulin from the β-cells of the pancreas.