Magainin-Related Peptides Stimulate Insulin-Release and Improve Glucose Tolerance in High Fat Fed Mice

Increased insulinotropic activity by the cholinergic agonist carbachol exists in insulin-resistant high fat-fed C57BL/6J mice. We examined the efficiency and potency of carbachol to potentiate glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and to improve glucose tolerance in these animals. Intravenous administration of carbachol (at 15 and 50 nmol/kg) markedly potentiated glucose (1 g/kg)-stimulated insulin secretion in mice fed both a control and a high-fat diet (for 12 wk), with a higher relative potentiation in high fat-fed mice measured as increased (1–5 min) acute insulin response and area under the 50-min insulin curve. Concomitantly, glucose tolerance was improved by carbachol. In fact, carbachol normalized glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and glucose tolerance in mice subjected to a high-fat diet. Carbachol (>100 nmol/l) also potentiated glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from isolated islets with higher efficiency in high fat-fed mice. In contrast, binding of the muscarinic receptor antagonist [ N- methyl-3H]scopolamine to islet muscarinic receptors and the contractile action of carbachol on ileum muscle strips were not different between the two groups. We conclude that carbachol normalizes glucose tolerance in insulin resistance.

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The effect of maternal protein deficiency during pregnancy and lactation on glucose tolerance and pancreatic islet function in adult rat offspring

Journal of Endocrinology ◽

10.1677/joe.0.1540177 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 154 (1) ◽

pp. 177-185 ◽

Cited By ~ 57

Author(s):

M R Wilson ◽

S J Hughes

Keyword(s):

Glucose Tolerance ◽

Impaired Glucose Tolerance ◽

Insulin Release ◽

Pancreatic Islet ◽

High Fat Diet ◽

Cell Function ◽

Adult Life ◽

Islet Function ◽

High Fat ◽

Neonatal Nutrition

Abstract To test the hypothesis that poor foetal–neonatal nutrition predisposes adult animals to impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes, pregnant and lactating rats were fed a low (5%) protein diet and glucose tolerance and pancreatic islet function then assessed in the adult offspring. To expose any underlying defects the offspring were allowed access to a sucrose supplement (35%) or fed a high fat diet. Offspring born to low protein-fed females had significantly lower body weights than controls. In islets from previously malnourished rats, insulin release in batch incubations or perifusion was not significantly different to controls. In islets from previously malnourished animals fed sucrose, glucose-stimulated insulin release was reduced in perifusion by 66% (P<0·01) and batch incubations by 26–52% (6–16 mmol/l glucose, (P<0·01). Similarly, impaired secretory responses were found in islets from previously malnourished animals fed a high fat diet. These did not result from a reduced pool of releasable insulin, as arginine-stimulated secretion was not impaired. Rats previously malnourished showed a normal glucose tolerance. Glucose tolerance was impaired, however, in previously malnourished rats fed sucrose (area under the glucose tolerance test curve was increased by 42%, P<0·05) but despite the reduced islet secretory responses was not significantly different to sucrose-fed controls (area increased by 54%, P<0·05). Glucose tolerance was impaired in previously malnourished animals fed high fat diet (area increased by 48%, P<0·05) more so than in high fat fed-controls (28% increase, NS). These data support the hypothesis that poor foetal–neonatal nutrition leads to impaired pancreatic β-cell function which persists into adult life. Alone this is not sufficient to produce diabetes, but an inability to respond to a highly palatable fat diet may tip the balance towards impaired glucose tolerance. Journal of Endocrinology (1997) 154, 177–185

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