Insulinotropic action of α-d-glucose pentaacetate: functional aspects
The functional determinants of the insulinotropic action of α-d-glucose pentaacetate were investigated in rat pancreatic islets. The ester mimicked the effect of nutrient secretagogues by recruiting individual B cells into an active secretory state, stimulating proinsulin biosynthesis, inhibiting86Rb outflow, and augmenting45Ca efflux from prelabeled islets. The secretory response to the ester was suppressed in the absence of Ca2+ and potentiated by theophylline or cytochalasin B. The generation of acetate from the ester apparently played a small role in its insulinotropic action. Thus acetate, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, α-d-galactose pentaacetate, and β-d-galactose pentaacetate all failed to stimulate insulin release. The secretory response to α-d-glucose pentaacetate was reproduced by β-d-glucose pentaacetate and, to a lesser extent, by β-l-glucose pentaacetate. It differed from that evoked by unesterifiedd-glucose by its resistance to 3- O-methyl-d-glucose,d-mannoheptulose, and 2-deoxy-d-glucose. It is concluded that the insulinotropic action of α-d-glucose pentaacetate, although linked to the generation of the hexose from its ester, entails a coupling mechanism that is not identical to that currently implied in the process of glucose-induced insulin release.