Incorporation of feedback during beat synchronization is an index of neural maturation and reading skills.

Speech communication involves integration and coordination of sensory perception and motor production, requiring precise temporal coupling. Beat synchronization, the coordination of movement with a pacing sound, can be used as an index of this sensorimotor timing. We assessed adolescents' synchronization and capacity to correct asynchronies when given online visual feedback. Variability of synchronization while receiving feedback predicted phonological memory and reading sub-skills, as well as maturation of cortical auditory processing; less variable synchronization during the presence of feedback tracked with maturation of cortical processing of sound onsets and resting gamma activity. We suggest the ability to incorporate feedback during synchronization is an index of intentional, multimodal timing-based integration in the maturing adolescent brain. Precision of temporal coding across modalities is important for speech processing and literacy skills that rely on dynamic interactions with sound. Synchronization employing feedback may prove useful as a remedial strategy for individuals who struggle with timing-based language learning impairments.

Musical Meter Modulates the Allocation of Attention across Time.

Dynamic attending theory predicts that attention is allocated hierarchically across time during processing of hierarchical rhythmic structures such as musical meter. ERP research demonstrates that attention to a moment in time modulates early auditory processing as evidenced by the amplitude of the first negative peak (N1) approximately 100 msec after sound onset. ERPs elicited by tones presented at times of high and low metric strength in short melodies were compared to test the hypothesis that hierarchically structured rhythms direct attention in a manner that modulates early perceptual processing. A more negative N1 was observed for metrically strong beats compared with metrically weak beats; this result provides electrophysiological evidence that hierarchical rhythms direct attention to metrically strong times during engaged listening. The N1 effect was observed only on fast tempo trials, suggesting that listeners more consistently invoke selective processing based on hierarchical rhythms when sounds are presented rapidly. The N1 effect was not modulated by musical expertise, indicating that the allocation of attention to metrically strong times is not dependent on extensive training. Additionally, changes in P2 amplitude and a late negativity were associated with metric strength under some conditions, indicating that multiple cognitive processes are associated with metric perception.

Synergism by individual macronutrients explains the marked early GLP-1 and islet hormone responses to mixed meal challenge in mice.

Apart from glucose, proteins and lipids also stimulate incretin and islet hormone secretion. However, the glucoregulatory effect of macronutrients in combination is poorly understood. We therefore developed an oral mixed meal model in mice to 1) explore the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and islet hormone responses to mixed meal versus isocaloric glucose, and 2) characterize the relative contribution of individual macronutrients to these responses. Anesthetized C57BL/6J female mice were orally gavaged with 1) a mixed meal (0.285 kcal; glucose, whey protein and peanut oil; 60/20/20% kcal) versus an isocaloric glucose load (0.285 kcal), and 2) a mixed meal (0.285 kcal) versus glucose, whey protein or peanut oil administered individually in their mixed meal caloric quantity, i.e., 0.171, 0.055 and 0.055 kcal, respectively. Plasma was analyzed for glucose, insulin and intact GLP-1 before and during oral challenges. Plasma glucose was lower after mixed meal versus after isocaloric glucose ingestion. In spite of this, the peak insulin response (P=0.02), the peak intact GLP-1 levels (P=0.006) and the estimated ß-cell function (P=0.005) were higher. Furthermore, the peak insulin (P=0.004) and intact GLP-1 (P=0.006) levels were higher after mixed meal ingestion than the sum of responses to individual macronutrients. Compared to glucose alone, we conclude that there is a marked early insulin response to mixed meal ingestion, which emanates from a synergistic, rather than an additive, effect of the individual macronutrients in the mixed meal and is in part likely caused by increased levels of GLP-1.

Effects of conjugated linoleic acid plus n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on insulin secretion and estimated insulin sensitivity in men.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Dietary addition of either conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) or n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC-PUFAs) has been shown to alter adiposity and circulating lipids, risk markers of cardiovascular diseases. However, CLA may decrease insulin sensitivity, an effect that may be reversed by n-3 LC-PUFA. Thus, the potential of CLA plus n-3 LC-PUFA to affect insulin secretion and sensitivity in non-diabetic young and old, lean and obese subjects was tested. SUBJECTS/METHODS: CLA (3 g daily) plus n-3 LC-PUFA (3 g daily) or control oil (6 g daily) was given to lean (n=12; BMI 20-26 kg/m(2)) or obese (n=10; BMI 29-35 kg/m(2)) young (20-37 years old) or lean (n=16) or obese (n=11) older men (50-65 years) for 12 weeks. The study had a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized crossover design, and primary end points were insulin secretion and sensitivity during a standardized meal test, evaluated by modeling glucose, insulin and C-peptide data. RESULTS: The combination was well tolerated. There was no significant difference in fasting levels of glucose, insulin or C-peptide after CLA/n-3 LC-PUFA treatment compared with control oil. Neither insulin secretion nor estimated sensitivity was affected by CLA/n-3 LC-PUFA in lean or obese young subjects or in older lean subjects. However, in older obese subjects, estimated insulin sensitivity was reduced with CLA/n-3 LC-PUFA compared with control (P=0.024). CONCLUSIONS: The results do not support beneficial effects of CLA/n-3 LC-PUFA for beta-cell dysfunction or insulin resistance in humans but suggest that insulin sensitivity in older obese subjects is reduced.

The influence of potato fibre on exocrine pancreatic secretions and on plasma levels of insulin, secretin and cholecystokinin in growing pigs.

The effect of a potato fibre preparation on exocrine pancreatic secretions and on gastrointestinal hormone levels in plasma was studied in three 8 weeks old piglets that were surgically fitted with a jugular vein catheter for blood sampling, a pancreatic duct catheter and a T-shaped duodenal cannula for collection of pancreatic juice. The animals were fed for 2 weeks a control diet (experimental period 1), thereafter for 2 weeks the control diet supplemented with 2% potato fibre (experimental period 2) and for another 2 weeks the control diet again (experimental period 3). Additionally, intraduodenal (i.d.) infusions of the experimental diet, the control diet and potato fibre as well as i.v. infusions of a solution containing cholecystokinin (CCK) and secretin were administered. Potato fibre in the diet evoked in tendency an increase in the volume of secretion of pancreatic juice and a significant increase both in the mean values of the total protein content and total activities of lipase, trypsin and alpha-amylase when compared to the control diet. The i.d. infusion of the control diet, experimental diet and fibre infusate as well as the i.v. administration of the hormone infusate led to a spontaneous secretory response of the exocrine pancreas. Besides gastrointestinal hormones, such as CCK, other factors such as short chain fatty acids may be involved in the regulation of the exocrine pancreas.

Potentiated beta-cell response to non-glucose stimuli in insulin-resistant C57BL/6J mice.

Insulin secretion in response to acetylcholine receptor activation by carbachol in insulin resistance induced by 12 weeks of high-fat diet in C57BL/6J mice is exaggerated. To study whether this persists after a longer period of time and also involves other non-glucose stimuli, we fed C57BL/6J mice a high-fat diet for 24 weeks. Both hyperinsulinemia (341 +/- 33 vs. 148 +/- 15 pmol/l) and slight hyperglycemia (7.8 +/- 0.2 vs. 6.1 +/- 0.1 mmol/l) were evident at this time point. The insulinotropic response to high dose carbachol (0.53 micromol/kg; 3403 +/- 377 vs. 1595 +/- 429 pmol/l), to the glucose analogue, 2-deoxyglucose (6 mmol/kg; 2014 +/- 315 vs. 1167 +/- 200 pmol/l), to cholecystokinin-8 (15.9 nmol/kg; 499 +/- 93 vs. 119 +/- 40 pmol/l) and to glucagon-like peptide-1 (32 nmol/kg; 307 +/- 86 vs. 71 +/- 9 pmol/l), were all exaggerated in mice given high-fat diet. In contrast, the insulin response to glucose was impaired. This shows that insulin resistance is accompanied by a general islet supersensitivity to non-glucose stimuli, which persists over a long period of time.

Marked and rapid decreases of circulating leptin in streptozotocin diabetic rats: reversal by insulin.

Evidence for regulation of circulating leptin by insulin is conflicting. Diabetes was induced in rats with streptozotocin (STZ; 40 mg.kg(-1).day(-1) x 2 days) to examine the effect of insulin-deficient diabetes and insulin treatment on circulating leptin. After 12 wk, plasma leptin concentrations in untreated rats were all < 0.4 ng/ml versus 4.9 +/- 0.9 ng/ml in control animals (P < 0.005). In rats treated with subcutaneous insulin implants for 12 wk, which reduced hyperglycemia by approximately 50%, plasma leptin was 2.1 +/- 0.6 ng/ml, whereas leptin concentrations were 6.0 +/- 1.6 ng/ml in insulin-implanted rats receiving supplemental injections of insulin for 4 days to normalize plasma glucose (P < 0.005 vs. STZ untreated). In a second experiment, plasma leptin was monitored at biweekly intervals during 12 wk of diabetes. In rats treated with insulin implants, plasma leptin concentrations were inversely proportional to glycemia (r = -0.64; P < 0.0001) and unrelated to body weight (P = 0.40). In a third experiment, plasma leptin concentrations were examined very early after the induction of diabetes. Within 24 h after STZ injection, plasma insulin decreased from 480 +/- 30 to 130 +/- 10 pM (P < 0.0001), plasma glucose increased from 7.0 +/- 0.2 to 24.8 +/- 0.5 mM, and plasma leptin decreased from 3.2 +/- 0.2 to 1.2 +/- 0.1 ng/ml (delta = -63 +/- 3%, P < 0.0001). In a subset of diabetic rats treated with insulin for 2 days, glucose decreased to 11.7 +/- 3.9 mM and leptin increased from 0.5 +/- 0.1 to 2.9 +/- 0.6 ng/ml (P < 0.01) without an effect on epididymal fat weight. The change of leptin was correlated with the degree of glucose lowering (r = 0.75, P < 0.05). Thus insulin-deficient diabetes produces rapid and sustained decreases of leptin that are not solely dependent on weight loss, whereas insulin treatment reverses the hypoleptinemia. We hypothesize that decreased glucose transport into adipose tissue may contribute to decreased leptin production in insulin-deficient diabetes.

Potential clinical use of the EDTA-infusion test.

The introduction of assays for the intact parathyrin (parathyroid hormone) has dramatically improved the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. However, in some patients with mild or intermittent hypercalcaemia, when plasma concentrations of intact parathyrin may be within the normal reference concentrations, the diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism may still be problematic. In these patients, the EDTA-infusion test is of potential value, as it also might be in patients with equivocal operative findings.

Surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism performed under local anaesthesia.

Patients with primary hyperparathyroidism are often elderly with cardiovascular disease and in some an operation might be hazardous owing to anaesthetic complications. A technique for operation for primary hyperparathyroidism under local anaesthesia is described. The method uses a unilateral approach. Seventeen consecutive patients operated on under local anaesthesia were compared with a group of 15 patients undergoing surgery under general anaesthesia. Normocalcaemia was achieved in 14 patients in each group. There was no difference in the extent of pain or the overall well-being between the two groups as determined by a visual analogue scale. Patients receiving local anaesthesia, however, experienced significantly less nausea after operation (P < 0.01). There was more fluctuation in blood pressure and heart rate in the general anaesthesia group compared with the other group. Surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism can be performed safely under local anaesthesia, and could be offered to patients if general anaesthesia were not suitable or involved an increased perioperative risk. It should not be recommended for routine use in patients who are fit for general anaesthesia.

Neonatal capsaicin-treatment in mice: effects on pancreatic peptidergic nerves and 2-deoxy-D-glucose-induced insulin and glucagon secretion.

It is not known whether sensory nerves are involved in the insulin, glucagon or glucose responses to autonomic nerve activation induced by 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG). We therefore treated mice neonatally with capsaicin which permanently destroys sensory afferent nerve fibers. Immunohistochemistry of the pancreas at 13-14 weeks of age revealed a substantial reduction of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-immunoreactive nerves and a partial reduction of substance P-immunoreactive nerves. In contrast, no effect was observed on galanin-immunoreactive nerves. At age 10-12 weeks, the mice were injected intravenously with 2-DG (500 mg/kg). In controls, 2-DG stimulated insulin and glucagon secretion and induced hyperglycemia (P less than 0.01). Capsaicin treatment partially reduced the glucose and glucagon responses to 2-DG (P less than 0.01). In contrast, the insulin response to 2-DG was not affected by capsaicin. It is concluded that the mouse pancreas contains capsaicin-sensitive sensory CGRP- and substance P-immunoreactive nerve fibers, whereas the galanin-immunoreactive nerve fibers are not sensitive to capsaicin. Furthermore, capsaicin-sensitive sensory nerve fibers are partially involved in 2-DG-induced glucagon secretion and hyperglycemia, whereas sensory nerves are not involved in 2-DG-induced insulin secretion.

Acetic acid-induced colitis in the rat: a reproducible experimental model for acute ulcerative colitis.

There exists no ideal model for experimental ulcerative colitis in common laboratory animals. Therefore, we tried in the present study to establish a reproducible model for inducing colitis in rats by using acetic acid. A blind loop of the colon including the cecum, ascending colon and part of the transverse colon, was brought out through two colostomies. After mechanical washing with warm normal saline, acetic acid was instilled at different doses (4, 6 and 8%) for different exposure times (10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 s). The excluded colon was examined by light microscopy on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 7th and 14th days after operation and acetic acid instillation. We found that 4% acetic acid for 15 s produced a moderate, superficial colitis on the 1st day after operation, whereafter a uniform colitis evolved in all rats on the 4th day after operation. The developed colitis showed morphological similarities with human ulcerative colitis. Signs of healing and regeneration of the mucosa were seen on the 7th day, and the mucosa became almost normal at the 14th day after operation. 6 or 8% acetic acid solution or exposure times exceeding 15 s resulted in severe, deep colitis with a concomitant high mortality rate. In contrast, at exposure times less than 15 s, acetic acid induced only mild superficial colitis. We conclude that by using 4% acetic acid for 15 s in the excluded colon a uniform and reproducible colitis pathologically resembling human ulcerative colitis could be achieved. Furthermore, no mortality was encountered and the general health of the rats was similar to that of the controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Mitomycin C and lipiodol do not improve the effect of intermittent hepatic artery occlusion on liver tumour growth. An experimental study in the rat.

The effect of Mitomycin C (MMC 2.0 mg/kg bw), lipiodol (0.2 ml/kg bw) and intermittent hepatic artery occlusion on liver tumour growth, as well as their possible interrelation, were studied in 29 rats. An adenocarcinoma was inoculated in the left liver lobe. After one week, the tumour size was measured and the rats then divided into five different groups of treatment. Intermittent hepatic artery occlusion was performed during five days for 1 hour daily alone, of initially in combination with MMC and lipiodol. One group was treated with MMC and lipiodol in combination and one group with lipiodol only. The tumour growth six days later was compared between the groups and with control rats. It was found that intermittent arterial occlusion significantly reduced the tumour growth (P = 0.01). However, the retarding effect of intermittent arterial occlusion on tumour growth was not significantly improved with additional treatment of MMC and lipiodol.

Phosphatidylcholine prevents postoperative peritoneal adhesions: an experimental study in the rat.

Phosphatidylcholine (PC) is the main constituent of the surface-active material coating peritoneal mesothelium. It may prevent postoperative adhesion formation through production of a lubricant film on mesothelial defects. We therefore examined the effect of its soluble form on surgically induced intraabdominal adhesions in rats. The adhesions were induced at laparotomy by any of four different operative models. PC was administered intraperitoneally (20 mg/rat) or intravenously (20 mg/rat or 50 mg/rat) at the end of the operation and on the second and third postoperative day. It was found that the degree of postoperative adhesion formation was significantly reduced by the intraperitoneal injection of PC in all 4 models. In contrast, no effect was achieved by the intravenous injection of PC, not even at a very high dose level. Our results suggest that soluble PC administered intraperitoneally might be a potent adjunct in postoperative adhesion prevention.

Glucose tolerance and insulin secretion in experimental peritonitis in the rat.

The changes in the regulation of insulin secretion that accompany sepsis are yet to be fully established. We therefore examined insulin secretion both in vivo and in vitro in 2 different models of peritonitis/sepsis in the rat. Sepsis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of Escherichia coli either alone or together with bile. Following sepsis induction, an initial hyperglycemia developed. This hyperglycemia was transient and had vanished after 3 h (coli group) or 9 h (bile group). However, after 24 h, a second phase of hyperglycemia developed in both groups. The glucose elimination rate after intravenous glucose injection (0.5 g/kg) at 4 and 10 h after peritonitis/sepsis induction was retarded and the hyperglycemia that occurred during intravenous glucose infusion (10 mg/min for 30 min) was exaggerated. This is consistent with a reduced glucose uptake. Simultaneously, the plasma insulin responses to glucose were markedly exaggerated. This could be due to a true potentiated insulin secretion or simply to an adaptation to the hyperglycemia. However, also during intravenous arginine infusion (7 mg/min) at 4 h after peritonitis/sepsis induction, the plasma insulin responses were markedly exaggerated. Since only a slight change in plasma glucose occurred during this challenge, the results suggest that sepsis is accompanied by a true hypersecretion of insulin. To verify whether this is directly or indirectly mediated, pancreatic islets were isolated from peritonitis/sepsis animals at 4 h after disease induction and incubated for 45 min in a KRB medium supplemented with different concentrations of glucose. The subsequent insulin secretion was the same in islets from the septic animals as in controls. Hence, our results show that experimental peritonitis/sepsis in the rat is accompanied by (1) glucose intolerance and (2) a true hypersecretion of insulin which is indirectly mediated.

GABA inhibits thyroid hormone secretion in the mouse.

The enzymes responsible for both the formation and degradation of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) are known to exist in the thyroid gland. The thyroid is also equipped with high- and low-affinity uptake mechanisms for GABA. We therefore investigated the effects of GABA on basal and TSH-stimulated thyroid hormone secretion in the mouse according to the McKenzie technique. Iodine-deficient mice were pretreated with Na125I and thyroxine. GABA (1-100 nmol/kg iv) did not affect basal radioiodine levels. However, the neurotransmitter inhibited the TSH-induced increase in blood radioiodine levels. Thus, the increase after iv injection of TSH at 70 microU/animal (205 +/- 15%) was inhibited by GABA at 10 nmol/kg (to 155 +/- 14%; P less than 0.05). In contrast, a dose as high as 100 nmol/kg was necessary to inhibit the effect of TSH at its high dose of 350 microU/animal. The GABAA-receptor antagonist bicuculline counteracted this inhibitory action of GABA. Furthermore, pretreatment with the inhibitor of GABA-degrading enzyme GABA transaminase (gamma-vinyl GABA) impaired the stimulatory effect of TSH on blood radioiodine levels. Thus, at 350 microU/animal, TSH increased blood radioiodine levels by 363 +/- 34% in controls vs by only 246 +/- 32% in animals pretreated with gamma-vinyl-GABA (P less than 0.05). We conclude that GABA is an inhibitor of TSH-stimulated thyroid hormone secretion.

Effects of beta-endorphin, met-enkephalin, and dynorphin A on basal and stimulated insulin secretion in the mouse.

Since opioid peptides and opiate receptors have been demonstrated in the pancreatic islets, we investigated the effects of beta-endorphin, met-enkephalin, and dynorphin A, on basal and stimulated insulin secretion in the mouse. Each of the three opioid peptides was injected intravenously (0.06-64 nmol/kg) alone or together with each of the three insulin releasing agents glucose (2.8 mmol/kg), carbachol (cholinergic agonist, 0.16 mumol/kg), or terbutaline (beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist, 3.6 mumol/kg). It was found that beta-endorphin, met-enkephalin, and dynorphin A were all without effect on basal plasma insulin levels, except a slight elevation by beta-endorphin induced at 2 min after its injection at 64 nmol/kg (to 41 +/- 2 microU/mL vs 28 +/- 4 microU/mL in controls; p less than 0.05). Glucose- and terbutaline-induced insulin secretion were inhibited by beta-endorphin at the lower dose levels of 0.25 (p less than 0.01) and 1 nmol/kg (p less than 0.05). This effect was counteracted by the opiate receptor antagonist naloxone (500 micrograms/kg). In contrast, beta-endorphin at the high dose levels of 16 and 64 nmol/kg augmented the glucose- and terbutaline-induced insulin secretion (p less than 0.05). Carbachol-induced insulin secretion was not affected by beta-endorphin at the lower dose levels but augmented by the peptide at 64 nmol/kg (p less than 0.01). Met-enkephalin inhibited glucose- (p less than 0.01) and terbutaline- (p less than 0.05) induced insulin secretion at the high dose rates of 16 and 64 nmol/kg, but the peptide was without effect on carbachol-induced insulin secretion. The inhibitory effects were counteracted by naloxone. Dynorphin A did not affect stimulated insulin secretion at any of the dose levels tested. In summary, in the mouse 1. beta-Endorphin at low dose levels inhibits and at high dose levels augments stimulated insulin secretion; 2. Met-enkephalin inhibits stimulated insulin secretion; and 3. Dynorphin A does not affect insulin secretion. It is suggested that the main influence of beta-endorphin and met-enkephalin under in vivo conditions in the mouse is to inhibit stimulated insulin secretion.

The effects of epinephrine on islet hormone secretion in the dog.

We investigated the direct effects of physiological levels of epinephrine on the basal and arginine-stimulated secretion of insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin from the in situ pancreas in halothane-anaesthetized dogs. An IV infusion of 20 ng/kg/min of epinephrine increased plasma epinephrine levels to 918 +/- 103 pg/ml (P less than 0.001), and increased the baseline pancreatic output of insulin (P less than 0.05), glucagon (P less than 0.05) and somatostatin (P less than 0.05). The acute insulin response (AIR) to 2.5 g of arginine during this infusion of epinephrine was significantly higher (P less than 0.05) than in controls as were the acute glucagon response (AGR) (P less than 0.05) and the acute somatostatin response (ASLIR) (P less than 0.05). Plasma glucose levels increased slightly and transiently during infusion of epinephrine from 99 +/- 2 mg/dl to a maximum of 110 +/- 3 mg/dl (P less than 0.05). An IV infusion of 80 ng/kg/min of epinephrine produced plasma epinephrine levels of 2,948 +/- 281 pg/ml, and increased the baseline pancreatic output of insulin (P less than 0.05) and glucagon (P less than 0.05). In contrast, baseline somatostatin output decreased transiently during this high dose infusion of epinephrine. The AIR and ASLIR to arginine were both significantly lower (P less than 0.05) than those during the infusion of epinephrine at the low dose. The AGR to arginine remained potentiated (P less than 0.05). Plasma glucose levels increased from 99 +/- 3 mg/dl to 119 +/- 4 mg/dl (P less than 0.01). We conclude that the effect of epinephrine on islet hormone secretion is dependent on the plasma level of epinephrine. At stress levels of 900-1000 pg/ml, both insulin and somatostatin secretion are stimulated; only at near pharmacologic, or extreme stress levels, does epinephrine produce net inhibition.

Cholinergic and VIPergic effects on thyroid hormone secretion in the mouse.

The thyroid gland is known to harbor cholinergic and VIPergic nerves. In the present study, the influences of cholinergic stimulation by carbachol, cholinergic blockade by methylatropine and stimulation with various VIP sequences on basal, TSH-induced and VIP-induced thyroid hormone section were investigated in vivo in mice. The mice were pretreated with 125I and thyroxine; the subsequent release of 125I is an estimation of thyroid hormone secretion. It was found that basal radioiodine secretion was inhibited by both carbachol and methylatropine. Furthermore, TSH-induced radioiodine secretion was inhibited already by a low dose of carbachol. Moreover, a high dose of carbachol could inhibit VIP-induced radioiodine secretion. Methylatropine did not influence TSH- or VIP-stimulated radioiodine secretion, but counteracted the inhibitory action of carbachol on TSH- and VIP-induced radioiodine release. In addition, contrary to VIP, six various synthesized VIP fragments had no effect on basal or stimulated radioiodine release. It is concluded that basal thyroid hormone secretion is inhibited by both cholinergic activation and blockade. Furthermore, TSH-induced thyroid hormone secretion is more sensitive to inhibition with cholinergic stimulation than is VIP-induced thyroid hormone secretion. In addition, the VIP stimulation of thyroid hormone secretion seems to require the full VIP sequence.

Effects of alpha-adrenoceptor agonists and antagonists on thyroid hormone secretion.

The effects of various alpha-adrenoceptor agonists and antagonists on blood radioiodine levels were studied in mice pre-treated with 125I and thyroxine. The non-selective alpha-adrenoceptor agonist noradrenaline and the selective alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine both enhanced blood radioiodine levels. Noradrenaline was more potent than phenylephrine. Contrary, the selective alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine depressed basal levels of blood radioiodine. The non-selective alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist phentolamine and the selective alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin both inhibited the noradrenaline-induced elevation of radioiodine levels, whereas the alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist yohimbine had no such effect, except at a high dose level. All three alpha-adrenoceptor agonists, noradrenaline, phenylephrine and clonidine, inhibited the radioiodine response to TSH. In addition, TSH-induced increase in radioiodine levels was inhibited by prazosin, whereas yohimbine had no effect. Phentolamine inhibited the radioiodine response to TSH when given 2 h prior to TSH, whereas when given 15 min prior to TSH the response to TSH was potentiated by phentolamine. It is concluded, that under in vivo conditions in the mouse, alpha 1-adrenoceptor activation stimulates basal thyroid hormone secretion and inhibits TSH-induced thyroid hormone secretion. Further, alpha 2-adrenoceptor activation inhibits basal thyroid hormone secretion. In addition, TSH-induced thyroid hormone secretion is inhibited by alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonism. Thus, alpha-adrenoceptors induce both stimulatory and inhibitory effects of thyroid function.

Effects of L-dopa-induced dopamine accumulation on 45Ca2+ efflux and insulin secretion in isolated rat islets.

It has previously been demonstrated in several species that the secretory granules of pancreatic beta-cells have the ability to store substantial amounts of calcium and bioactive amines, such as dopamine and serotonin. Furthermore, evidence for a similar topographical localization for amine and calcium within the periphery of the granules has been obtained. In the present study, a possible interaction between dopamine and calcium on insulin release was investigated. Isolated rat islets were loaded with 45Ca2+ in the presence of theophylline and high glucose and then perifused in a dynamic system where radioactivity and insulin were determined in the effluent. When perifused in a bicarbonate buffer with 2 mmol/l Ca2+ and supplemented with the monoamine oxidase inhibitor pargyline, L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-dopa)-induced dopamine accumulation in the islets brought about a slight and transient increase in 45Ca2+ efflux. This increase was more pronounced and sustained in a Ca2+-deficient buffer or in a Ca2+-deficient buffer supplemented with ethyleneglycolbis(aminoethylether)tetraacetic acid (EGTA). Insulin release was transiently stimulated by islet dopamine accumulation in the Ca2+-deprived media, but not in a medium with 2 mmol/l Ca2+. Glucose-induced insulin release in 2 mmol/l Ca2+ was potentiated by acute dopamine accumulation. The combined effect of glucose stimulation and islet accumulation of dopamine induced a transient insulin release in the Ca2+-deprived media with and without EGTA. This release of insulin was accompanied by an increased 45Ca2+ efflux which was most pronounced in the presence of EGTA. Stimulation with glucose alone, i.e. without addition of L-dopa tended to decrease insulin release and 45Ca2+ efflux in a Ca2+-deficient medium. No effects of L-dopa or L-dopa + glucose were encountered in a Ca2+-deficient buffer when the monoamine oxidase inhibitor pargyline was replaced by the dopa-decarboxylase inhibitor benserazide. The results are interpreted as being a consequence of a complex interaction between the accumulated dopamine and a pool of Ca2+ mainly confined to the secretory granules. This interaction could be followed by a transient increase in cytosolic Ca2+ and a subsequent efflux of Ca2+ out of the cell, eventually accompanied by insulin release. Increasing the cytosolic Ca2+ by acute dopamine accumulation makes the cell more sensitive to a concomitant stimulation with glucose, and the release of insulin is triggered. A long-term dopamine accumulation. On the other hand, might diminish the granular Ca2+ pool to such a level where insulin release is inhibited after stimulation with certain secretagogues.