Multiple abnormalities in insulin responses to nonglucose nutrients in neonatally streptozotocin diabetic rats.

Insulin responses to nutrient secretagogues were investigated in neonatally streptozotocin-injected (n-STZ) rats, i.e. an animal model of noninsulin-dependent diabetes. In the perfused pancreas 16 mM L-glutamine induced and 10 mM octanoate tended to induce (P less than 0.2) higher responses in n-STZ than in nondiabetic rats. Addition of 3.9 mM glucose potentiated responses to glutamine and octanoate more in n-STZ (3.3- and 3.4-fold) than in nondiabetic rats (1.5- and 1.9-fold). Conversely, the succinate derivative succinate monomethylester (Succ ME) induced lesser response in n-STZ rats (57% of that in nondiabetic rats) and coperfusion with 3.9 mM glucose increased the response less in n-STZ (1.4-fold) than in nondiabetic rats (3.8-fold). Pyruvate (20 mM) mimicked the potency of 3.9 mM glucose, i.e. pyruvate potentiated the response to Succ ME only nonsignificantly (1.2-fold) in n-STZ but markedly (4.9-fold) in nondiabetic rats. Dichloroacetate (20 mM) failed to affect the response to Succ ME together with pyruvate in n-STZ rats. To investigate the role of hyperglycemia for octanoate-induced secretion, nondiabetic rats were made hyperglycemic by 48-h glucose infusions. Octanoate-induced secretion from perfused pancreas was enhanced 3.8-fold after moderate hyperglycemia (13.2 +/- 0.6 mM) and 17-fold after marked hyperglycemia (22.7 +/- 0.6 mM). This positive association between response and degree of hyperglycemia was not found with a nonnutrient secretagogue, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine. Results with glutamine and octanoate indicate that oxidation of nonglucose nutrients which normally do not regulate secretion is enhanced secondary to chronic hyperglycemia. Results with Succ ME and pyruvate suggest that early steps of oxidation of glucose are impaired in n-STZ rats.

Ion beam shaping and downsizing of nanostructures.

We report a new approach for progressive and well-controlled downsizing of nanostructures below the 10 nm scale. A low energetic ion beam (Ar(+)) is used for gentle surface erosion, progressively shrinking the dimensions with ∼1 nm accuracy. The method enables shaping of the nanostructure geometry and polishing of the surface. The process is clean room/high vacuum compatible being suitable for various applications. Apart from technological advantages, the method enables the study of various size phenomena on the same sample between sessions of ion beam treatment.

Influence of severe diabetes mellitus early in pregnancy in the rat: effects on insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion in the offspring.

We studied the influence of severe diabetes early in pregnancy on insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion in the offspring. Diabetes (blood glucose greater than 20 mmol/l) was induced in female Sprague-Dawley rats before mating. Diabetic dams were insulin treated during the second half of pregnancy (mean blood glucose 10.6 mmol/l). The offspring were reared by foster mothers. Offspring of both sexes were insulin resistant at four and seven months of age as evidenced by normal glucose tolerance after glucose (2 g/kg body weight intraperitoneally) concomitant with higher than normal rises in insulin levels. Regardless of fetal environment the male rats had higher glucose and insulin levels than the female rats. Insulin responses to glucose (27 mmol/l) in vitro in perfused pancreases were not increased by maternal diabetes, male gender or higher age. Conversely responses to 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (1.0 mmol/l) were enhanced by all three conditions. The pancreatic content of insulin was only marginally affected by maternal diabetes. We conclude that severe diabetes during early pregnancy affects glucose homeostasis in the offspring primarily by diminishing insulin sensitivity and that susceptibility to this effect is not sex- or age-dependent.