Paradoxical glucagon response after stimulation with glucose and arginine in isolated pancreatic sand rat islets

Isolated pancreatic islets of normoglycemic sand rats do not respond to 2.5 mM glucose with an enhanced glucagon secretion, which could be observed in normal Wistar rats. Arginine stimulates glucagon release in the presence of 2.5 mM glucose in Wistar rats as well as in sand rats. The secretion pattern is not caused by insulin deficiency since sand rat islets are characterized by an increased insulin secretion rate in vitro. This paradoxical glucagon secretion is not caused by a changed glucagon content but might be related to this species which is able to develop a diabetic syndrome spontaneously.