PAC1 receptor-deficient mice display impaired insulinotropic response to glucose and reduced glucose tolerance.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a ubiquitous neuropeptide of the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) family that potentiates glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Pancreatic beta cells express two PACAP receptor subtypes, a PACAP-preferring (PAC1) and a VIP-shared (VPAC2) receptor. We have applied a gene targeting approach to create a mouse lacking the PAC1 receptor (PAC1(-/-)). These mice were viable and normoglycemic, but exhibited a slight feeding hyperinsulinemia. In vitro, in the isolated perfused pancreas, the insulin secretory response to PACAP was reduced by 50% in PAC1(-/-) mice, whereas the response to VIP was unaffected. In vivo, the insulinotropic action of PACAP was also acutely reduced, and the peptide induced impairment of glucose tolerance after an intravenous glucose injection. This demonstrates that PAC1 receptor is involved in the insulinotropic action of the peptide. Moreover, PAC1(-/-) mice exhibited reduced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in vitro and in vivo, showing that the PAC1 receptor is required to maintain normal insulin secretory responsiveness to glucose. The defective insulinotropic action of glucose was associated with marked glucose intolerance after both intravenous and gastric glucose administration. Thus, these results are consistent with a physiological role for the PAC1 receptor in glucose homeostasis, notably during food intake.

A different action of hypothermia on insulin release from the isolated, perfused rat pancreas, depending on the stimulating agent.

Two series of experiments were performed in parallel on the isolated perfused rat pancreas. The experimental conditions differed only as pertaining to temperature. In one series the organ and the perfusion liquid were maintained at 37.5 degrees C and in the other at 28 degrees C. The pancreases were perfused from the start of the experiments with a perfusion medium containing 8.3 mmol/l glucose. The effects of various stimulatory agents were studied (glucose 16.6 mmol/l, tolbutamide 0.4 mmol/l, acetylcholine 0.5 micromole/l, glucagon, 2.8 nmol/l, and L-isoprenaline 0.05 micromole/l). At 37.5 degrees C the insulin secretion induced by high glucose or tolbutamide, acetylcholine, and glucagon was biphasic and not statistically different. In all cases the hypothermia (28 degrees C) decreased insulin secretion. However, glucose-induced and tolbutamide-induced insulin secretion was more decreased than the secretion induced by acetylcholine and glucagon. The study of the secretion ratios obtained at 28 degrees C relative to 37.5 degrees C showed that the ratios for the glucose and tolbutamide groups were significantly lower than those obtained for acetylcholine and glucagon groups for both the first and the second phase. The ratios were not significantly different between glucose and tolbutamide on the one hand and acetylcholine and glucagon on the other hand. In all groups the ratios 28 degrees/37.5 degrees for the second phase were lower than those obtained during the first phase. L-isoprenaline induced only a weak increase in insulin secretion and this was not long lasting; this increase was not statistically different at both temperatures.

Adenosine-5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) is a potent agonist at P2 purinoceptors mediating insulin secretion from perfused rat pancreas.

1. The effects of a P2 purinoceptor agonist, adenosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (ADP-beta-S) have been studied on insulin secretion and flow rate of the isolated perfused pancreas of the rat. 2. In the presence of a moderately stimulating glucose concentration (8.3 mM), ADP-beta-S (4.95-495 nM) evoked a biphasic insulin response in a concentration-dependent manner. A comparison of relative potency between ADP-beta-S and adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) showed that ADP-beta-S was 100 times more potent than ATP. On the other hand, in the presence of a non stimulatory glucose concentration (4.2 mM), ADP-beta-S (165 nM) did not modify the basal insulin secretion. 3. ADP-beta-S, at concentrations effective on insulin secretion and also at higher concentrations (1.65 and 16.5 microM), provoked an increase of the pancreatic flow rate in a concentration-dependent manner. 4. Our results show that ADP-beta-S is a potent insulin secretory P2 purinoceptor agonist. As it is resistant to hydrolysis it might be useful in studying the effect of activation of the P2 purinoceptor of beta cells on insulin secretion in vivo.

Comparative effects of PACAP and VIP on pancreatic endocrine secretions and vascular resistance in rat.

1. The effects of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and secretin on pancreatic endocrine secretions and vascular resistance were investigated and compared in the isolated perfused pancreas of the rat. The PACAP/VIP receptor types involved have been characterized. 2. On insulin secretion, in the range 10(-11) to 10(-8) M, PACAP and VIP elicited a concentration-dependent biphasic response from pancreas perfused with 8.3 mM glucose; the peptides were equipotent. In contrast, secretin was ineffective in the range 10(-11) to 10(-9) M; at 10(-8) and 10(-7) M, it induced only low and transient insulin responses. On the other hand, the peptides did not modify the basal insulin release in the presence of a non stimulating glucose concentration (2.8 mM). 3. On glucagon secretion, PACAP and VIP (10(-11) to 10(-8) M) but also secretin (10(-9) to 10(-7) M) caused a concentration-dependent peak shaped response from pancreas perfused with 2.8 mM glucose; PACAP and VIP were equipotent and 20 times more potent then secretin. On the other hand, the peptides did not affect the glucagon release in the presence of 8.3 mM glucose. 4. On pancreatic vessels, in the range 10(-11) to 10(-9) M, the three peptides were equipotent in inducing a concentration-dependent sustained increase in pancreatic flow rate. On the other hand, at the high concentration of 10(-7) M PACAP but not VIP provoked a transient decrease of flow rate. 5. This study provides evidence for PACAP/VIP type II receptors mediating insulin and glucagon secretion as well as vasodilatation in rat pancreas. In addition, the different efficacies of secretin suggest that these effects are mediated by different PACAP/VIP type II receptor subtypes.

Evidence for a glutamate receptor of the AMPA subtype which mediates insulin release from rat perfused pancreas.

1. The effect of L-glutamate has been studied on insulin secretion by the isolated perfused pancreas of the rat. The glutamate receptor subtype involved has been characterized. 2. In the presence of a slightly stimulating glucose concentration (8.3 mM), L-glutamate (5 x 10(-5)-4 x 10(-3) M) induced an immediate, transient and concentration-dependent insulin response. On the other hand, in the presence of a non stimulating glucose concentration (2.8 mM), L-glutamate (10(-3) M) did not modify the basal insulin secretion. 3. The three non-NMDA receptor agonists, kainate (10(-4)-10(-3) M), alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA, 5 x 10(-5)-10(-4) M) and quisqualate (5 x 10(-6)-5 x 10(-5) M) all provoked a transient and concentration-dependent insulin response from pancreas perfused with 8.3 mM glucose. Compared with glutamate, kainate exhibited a similar efficacy, whereas AMPA and quisqualate elicited only a 3 fold lower maximal insulin response. In contrast, NMDA (10(-4)-10(-3) M) was ineffective. 4. An antagonist of non-NMDA receptors, 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX; 5 x 10(-5) M) totally prevented the stimulatory effect of L-glutamate (4 x 10(-4) M) and kainate (2 x 10(-4) M). In contrast, the NMDA receptor antagonist, (+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine ((+) MK801) was without effect. 5. The insulin secretory effect of glutamate (4 x 10(-4) M) was not affected by atropine (3 x 10(-7) M) or tetrodotoxin (3 x 10(-6) M). 6. Quisqualate at a high maximally effective concentration (4 x 10(-4) M) inhibited glutamate (10(-3) M) or kainate (4 x 10(-4) M)-induced insulin release. 7. This study shows that L-glutamate stimulates insulin secretion in rat pancreas, by acting on an excitatory amino acid receptor of the AMPA subtype.

Stimulation of insulin secretion and improvement of glucose tolerance in rat and dog by the P2y-purinoceptor agonist, adenosine-5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate).

1. In vivo effect of a P2y-purinoceptor agonist, adenosine-5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (ADP beta S), on insulin secretion and glycaemia were studied both in rats and dogs. 2. In anaesthetized rats, i.v. administered ADP beta S (0.2 mg kg-1) produced an insulin response dependent on the nutritional state of the animals, since we observed only a transient increase in overnight-fasted rats and a sustained insulin secretion followed by a reduction in plasma glucose levels in fed rats. During an i.v. glucose tolerance test, ADP beta S enhanced insulin release and thus increased the glucose disappearance rate. 3. In anaesthetized fasted dogs, i.v. administered ADP beta S (0.1 mg kg-1) increased pancreaticoduodenal insulin output and slightly decreased blood glucose levels. 4. In conscious fasted dogs, orally administered ADP beta S (0.1 mg kg-1) transiently increased insulinemia and punctually reduced glycaemia. Furthermore, during an oral glucose tolerance test, orally administered ADP beta S at the same dose markedly enhanced insulin secretion and consequently reduced the hyperglycaemia. 5. In conclusion, the P2y-agonist, ADP beta S, is a potent insulin secretagogue in vivo, improves glucose tolerance and is effective after oral administration. Thus, the P2y-purinoceptors of the beta cell may be a target for new antidiabetic drugs.

ATP and phosphate-modified adenine nucleotide analogues. Effects on insulin secretion and calcium uptake.

Our previous experiments on isolated rat pancreas gave evidence for a P2 purinergic receptor on the insulin-secreting B cell. This work was designed to investigate whether the stimulation of insulin release by phosphorylated adenosine derivatives could also be observed in rat isolated Langerhans islets and whether this stimulation was accompanied by changes in calcium uptake. The results indicate that two structural methylene analogues of ATP and ADP (alpha,beta-methylene ATP and alpha,beta-methylene ADP) display an insulin stimulatory effect comparable to that of ATP, confirming the membrane action of the latter. It was also found that calcium uptake increased concomitantly with insulin release under the effect of alpha,beta-methylene ADP; on the other hand this agent also increased the total exchangeable calcium content of islets at isotopic equilibrium. Verapamil, a blocker of voltage-sensitive calcium channels, counteracted the stimulation of insulin release and also blocked the increase in total exchangeable calcium content. These results demonstrate the involvement of calcium in the stimulus-secretion coupling of insulin release induced by an activator of P2 purinergic receptors and suggest the implication of voltage-sensitive calcium channels.

Microinjection of oxytocin into the dorsal vagal complex decreases pancreatic insulin secretion.

Microinjections of oxytocin and of an oxytocin antagonist into the dorsal vagal complex of the medulla oblongata were performed in order to study the possible role of the oxytocin containing axons that innervate this region in the regulation of pancreatic insulin secretion. No significant effect was produced by the intramedullary injection of the oxytocin vehicle alone or of 0.04 pM oxytocin. Injections of 4 and 20 pM oxytocin produced a reversible decrease of plasmatic insulin levels which fall to 59% of basal levels 15 min after the injection. Such an effect was abolished when 4 pM oxytocin was injected to animals which have been previously bilaterally vagotomized. In contrast to oxytocin, intramedullary injection of a specific antagonist of oxytocin to intact animals induced a marked increase of plasmatic insulin levels which raised 131% of basal levels 15 min after the injection. In animals receiving such an injection of oxytocin antagonist, a secondary injection of 4 pM oxytocin produced a slight but not significant decrease of plasmatic insulin levels. These data strongly suggest that the hypothalamic neurons producing oxytocin that densely project to the dorsal vagal complex may be involved in an inhibitory control of the vagal preganglionic neurons that innervate the pancreas.

Agmatine is not a good candidate as endogenous ligand for imidazoline sites of pancreatic B cells and vascular bed.

In order to determine whether agmatine could be a putative endogenous ligand for imidazoline receptors mediating insulin secretion and vasoconstriction, we compared its effects with those of the imidazoline, efaroxan. Agmatine exhibited a much lower potency and efficacy than efaroxan on insulin secretion from rat pancreas perfused with 8.3 mM glucose. On the other hand, in contrast to efaroxan (100 microM), agmatine (3 mM) did not increase arginine-induced insulin release. In addition, agmatine failed to reproduce the vasoconstrictor effect of efaroxan on pancreatic vessels. These results show that agmatine does not behave like efaroxan, an agonist for the imidazoline receptors mediating insulin secretion or vasoconstriction in the pancreas.

Antazoline increases insulin secretion and improves glucose tolerance in rats and dogs.

In vivo effects of an imidazoline devoid of alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonistic properties, antazoline, on insulin secretion and glycemia were investigated both in fasted rats and dogs. In both species, antazoline (1.5 mg/kg i.v.) transiently increased insulinemia without affecting basal plasma glucose levels. In contrast, during an i.v. glucose tolerance test, antazoline markedly potentiated insulin release and thus increased the glucose disappearance rate. In rats, during an oral glucose tolerance test, the intragastric administration of antazoline (1.5 mg/kg) clearly enhanced insulin secretion and reduced hyperglycemia. In dogs provided with a venous pancreatico-duodenal bypass, antazoline (0.5 mg/kg i.v.) induced an immediate and transient increase in insulin and somatostatin but not in glucagon pancreatico-duodenal outputs. In conclusion, intravenously and orally administered, the imidazoline antazoline is able to stimulate insulin secretion in vivo and improve glucose tolerance. The imidazoline compounds could therefore have a potential therapeutic relevance as new antihyperglycemic insulinotropic agents.

Glutamate stimulates glucagon secretion via an excitatory amino acid receptor of the AMPA subtype in rat pancreas.

The effect of L-glutamate was studied on glucagon secretion from rat isolated pancreas perfused with 2.8 mM glucose. L-Glutamate (3.10(-5)-10(-4)M) induced an immediate, transient and concentration-dependent glucagon release. The three non-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor agonists, kainate (3.10(-5)-3.10(-3)M), alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) (3.10(-5)-10(-4)M) and quisqualate (3.10(-6)-10(-5)M), all elicited a peak-shaped glucagon response. Compared to glutamate, AMPA and quisqualate exhibited a similar efficacy, whereas kainate caused a 4-fold higher maximal glucagon response. In contrast, NMDA (10(-3)M) was ineffective. The selective antagonist of non-NMDA receptors, 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX; 5.10(-5)M), totally prevented the glucagon response to 10(-4) M glutamate (IC50 congruent to 0.8 +/- 0.3 10(-6)M) and 3.10(-4)M kainate. Furthermore, quisqualate at a maximal effective concentration (3.10(-4)M) inhibited the response to kainate (10(-3)M). This study showed that L-glutamate stimulates glucagon release in rat pancreas by activating a receptor of the AMPA subtype.

In vivo study of glucose-induced somatostatin secretion: comparison in normal and alloxan-diabetic dogs.

This work was undertaken to study the effect of glucose on pancreaticoduodenal and peripheral venous somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SLI) levels in dogs. Our experiments were performed in normal and alloxan diabetic dogs, conscious or anesthetized. The response of somatostatin was studied following intravenous (0.2 g/kg) or oral (1 g/kg) glucose administration. SLI levels were assayed in peripheral venous blood and in superior pancreaticoduodenal venous blood. An interplay of the cholinergic nervous system was challenged both after oral and intravenous glucose load by a prior administration of atropine sulfate (0.2 mg/kg i.v.). Our results show that (a) peripheral venous SLI levels do not reflect pancreatic D-cell activity in alloxan diabetic as in normal animals. (b) Increase of peripheral venous SLI level after oral glucose is under cholinergic nervous system control. (c) In alloxan diabetic dogs, the response of pancreaticoduodenal venous SLI to intravenous glucose was decreased, whereas peripheral SLI response to oral glucose was increased.

Evidence for two different imidazoline sites on pancreatic B cells and vascular bed in rat.

The relative potencies of imidazoline compounds to induce insulin secretion and vascular resistance were compared in the isolated perfused rat pancreas. On insulin secretion, only the two imidazolines, antazoline and efaroxan, induced a concentration-dependent response, antazoline being 10 times more potent than efaroxan. In contrast, idazoxan, a blocker of imidazoline I1 sites, at concentrations up to 30 microM, antagonized the insulin response to 10 microM efaroxan (IC50 approximately equal to 14 +/- 2 microM) without affecting that to 3 microM tolbutamide. On pancreatic vessels, not only antazoline and efaroxan but also idazoxan induced a concentration-dependent vasoconstriction; the rank order of agonist potency was antazoline > efaroxan > idazoxan. In addition, cimetidine, an imidazole known to bind imidazoline I1 sites, ineffective per se, partially reversed the insulin stimulatory effect of efaroxan without affecting its vasoconstrictor effect. This study demonstrates that the insulin secretory and vasoconstrictor actions of imidazolines involve different imidazoline sites in rat pancreas. The results provide evidence for an I1 type mediating insulin secretion on B cells and an I2 type mediating vasoconstriction in vessels.

Statistical analysis of performance of a liquid chromatographic assay of anticonvulsants involving solvent-demixing extraction and reciprocal internal standardization.

Analysis of variance both factorial and nested was used to validate a HPLC method intended for routine clinical assay of ethosuximide, phenobarbital, phenytoin and carbamazepine. Drugs were salted out, together with the solvent, from 0.5 ml acetonitrile-deproteinized plasma samples with 80-90% recovery. The acetonitrile extraction solution contained a known amount of all four drugs. This added amount of any drug was used when absent from plasma as an internal standard for those present and when present as a calibrator. Results showed that assay precision was acceptable (CV 6%) over and above the therapeutic range when additions did not exceed the lower therapeutic plasma level and if as many replications were made as there were drugs to assay. In return for some loss of sensitivity, reciprocal internal standardization provides increased assay reliability owing to the usual availability of more than one internal standard and to easier identification of interfering chromatographic peaks.

[Use of very high doses of haloperidol in the treatment of acute psychotic episodes. Clinical and pharmacokinetic analysis apropos of 15 cases]. / Utilisation de très fortes posologies d'halopéridol dans le traitement des épisodes psychotiques aigus. Analyse clinique et pharmacocinétique à propos de quinze cas.

High-dosage haloperidol treatment was administered during three weeks in a rapid neuroleptization technique to fifteen patients suffering from acute psychotic episodes. Haloperidol plasma levels were determined by radioimmunoassay. The efficacy of such a therapeutic design seemed fairly good, particularly the rapid improvement during the first week. Yet, tolerance appeared to be low, with a high incidence of adverse effects, some of them unexpected. A very good correlation was observed between haloperidol plasma levels and haloperidol oral doses. By contrast, there was no correlation between plasma levels and clinical improvement. In the same way, the occurrence of adverse effects did not seem to be related to haloperidol plasma levels.

Adrenergic innervation of the dorsal vagal motor nucleus: possible involvement in inhibitory control of gastric acid and pancreatic insulin secretion.

Morphological and physiological approaches were used to investigate the possible role of an adrenergic innervation of the dorsal vagal complex in the control of basal gastric acid and pancreatic insulin secretion in the rat. The use of retrograde-tracing methods with injections of True Blue or of wheat-germ agglutinin into the stomach or pancreas first confirmed that most vagal preganglionic neurons innervating these two viscera are localized in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus, a number of them connected to both viscera. Light- and electron-microscopic investigation of the organization of adrenergic neuronal structures immunoreactive to phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase within this medullary nucleus further revealed: (i) that adrenergic axons establish profuse synaptic connections of the symmetrical type with perikarya and dendrites of this nucleus, and (ii) that several of these adrenergic fibers are connected with retrogradely labeled neurons innervating the stomach and/or pancreas. Lastly, measurements of basal gastric acid output and plasma insulin clearly indicated that both visceral secretions are rapidly and conspicuously decreased by local infusion of 2 nM adrenaline within the dorsal vagal complex. Taken together, these data strongly suggest that the adrenergic innervation of the dorsal medulla oblongata is involved in direct synaptic inhibition of the parasympathetic preganglionic neurons of the vagus that control secretion of gastric acid and pancreatic insulin.

Hypersensitivity to arginine of both B and D pancreatic cells in adult streptozotocin-diabetic rats.

Insulin and pancreatic somatostatin secretions were studied after stimulation with an arginine infusion (5 mmol/l) in isolated perfused pancreata of adult streptozotocin-diabetic rats. In the presence of 2.8 mmol/l glucose, arginine clearly stimulated insulin and somatostatin secretions in diabetic rats, whereas it was ineffective in normal rats. Thus, not only the B-cells, but also the D-cells of the pancreas from streptozotocin-diabetic rats are hypersensitive to arginine. The infusion of insulin (4 U/l) did not modify this hypersensitivity of the D-cells to arginine in pancreata of streptozotocin-diabetic rats.

Effect of LN 5330 on insulin release and calcium uptake by isolated rat islets of Langerhans. Comparison with diazoxide.

The effect of a new benzothiadiazine derivative, LN 5330, was studied on insulin release and 45Ca++ uptake by isolated rat islets of Langerhans. LN 5330 (0.1 mmol/l) significantly inhibited both insulin release and calcium uptake of islets incubated in MEM (glucose 8.3 mmol/l). This effect was comparable to that of diazoxide. The withdrawal of LN 5330 from the medium resulted in a significant increase of insulin release and calcium uptake by the islets during a subsequent incubation in MEM (glucose 8.3 mmol/l). In contrast, after withdrawal of diazoxide, insulin release and calcium uptake by the islets were not different from the controls. These results suggest a dual action of LN 5330: an effect, similar to that of diazoxide, responsible for the inhibition of insulin release in the presence of the drug; and an effect, specific to LN 5330, which would induce cellular changes, the consequence of which appears only upon withdrawal of the drug.

Maturation and insulin-like immunoreactivity in rat submandibular salivary glands: possible implication of G regulatory proteins.

Streptozotocin-induced diabetes is accompanied by an increase in insulin-like immunoreactivity concentration in rat submandibular salivary glands. In this study we have examined whether, in normal state, maturation is accompanied by changes in insulin-like immunoreactivity concentration of rat submandibular salivary glands. Insulin-like immunoreactivity concentrations of submandibular salivary glands were significantly higher in 11 months old rats compared with 3.5 months old control animals. A pertussis toxin pretreatment provoked an increase in insulin-like immunoreactivity, suggesting that a pertussis toxin sensitive G-protein is involved in the regulation of insulin-like immunoreactivity in the rat submandibular salivary glands.