Extracellular matrix composition influences insulinlike growth factor I receptor expression in rat IEC-18 cells.

BACKGROUND: The composition of the extracellular matrix (ECM) as well as insulinlike growth factor I (IGF-I) receptor density vary along the crypt-villus axis. We determined whether components of the ECM influence IGF-I receptor expression in IEC-18 rat small intestine crypt cells. METHODS: IEC-18 cells were cultured on plastic, collagen type IV, Matrigel, and laminin at the plateau and proliferative growth phases. Receptor affinity (Kd) and number (Bmax) were determined by competitive binding of 125I-IGF-I in the presence of increasing concentrations of unlabeled IGF-I. Receptor isolation was performed by affinity cross linking. Messenger RNA (mRNA) for IGF-I receptor was quantified by Northern analysis. RESULTS: Specific binding of IGF-I > IGF-II > insulin was observed. A 130,000-molecular weight protein was identified by cross-linking, consistent with the alpha subunit of the IGF-I receptor. Scatchard analysis revealed no effect of ECM on IGF-I binding affinity. In contrast, the Bmax was 18% lower for plateau-phase cells cultured on Matrigel vs. plastic and was 42% lower for cells cultured on laminin vs. collagen type IV. The Bmax for proliferative growth phase cells was decreased when cultured on Matrigel vs. plastic and was 10-fold less than for cells cultured at the plateau growth phase. Northern analysis revealed that IEC-18 cells cultured on Matrigel had less mRNA for IGF-I receptor than cells cultured on plastic. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of cell proliferation and the composition of the ECM influence IGF-I receptor expression in IEC-18 cells.

Genetically obese rats with (SHR/N-cp) and without diabetes (LA/N-cp) share abnormal islet responses to glucose.

To assess the effect of hyperglycemia on the function of islets obtained from obese rats, the behavior of isolated islets from LA/N-corpulent (nondiabetic obese) and SHR/N-corpulent (diabetic obese) male rats was examined and compared. Islets from both genetic models showed a left-shifted glucose dose-response curve for insulin release (concentrations for half-maximal release, 5 to 6 mmol/L v 12 to 13 mmol/L in LA/N lean littermates and 3 mmol/L v 10 mmol/L in lean SHR/N). When insulin release was expressed per unit islet volume, the fourfold to fivefold enlarged islets from both obese diabetic and obese nondiabetic rats showed decreased insulin secretory response in high (16.5 to 28 mmol/L) glucose concentrations, although the decrease was more severe in the diabetic rats. Glucose-stimulated insulin release by islets from both models was relatively resistant to inhibition by 1.2 mmol/L mannoheptulose (eg, 82% +/- 3% inhibition in LA/N lean v 16% +/- 8% in LA/N obese), although nearly complete inhibition was observed with 16 mmol/L mannoheptulose (96% v 85%, NS). Islets of obese diabetic rats were also resistant to the calcium-channel blocker, verapamil, suggesting an abnormal pathway of stimulus-secretion coupling for glucose. Glucose oxidation to carbon dioxide was increased in both obese models at all glucose concentrations when expressed per islet. In data expressed per unit volume, the larger islets from the obese-nondiabetic rats showed a left-shifted dose-response curve with an unchanged maximum rate of glucose oxidation at high (16.5 mmol/L) glucose concentrations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Multiple alterations in insulin responses to glucose in islets from 48-h glucose-infused nondiabetic rats.

To examine the biochemical mechanisms by which hyperglycemia produces insulin secretory abnormalities, we studied isolated islets from control rats and rats infused for 48 h with a 50% glucose solution. To preserve the effects of in vivo hyperglycemia during in vitro handling for islet isolation, our standard isolation procedure utilized buffers containing 16.8 mM glucose. Islets from infused rats released similar amounts of insulin in low or high glucose during first incubations at 37 degrees C (92.4 +/- 7.0 ng.10 islets-1.45 min-1 at 2.8 mM, 84.4 +/- 4.1 ng.10 islets-1.45 min-1 at 16.8 mM) in contrast with control (uninfused) islets (18.6 +/- 2.8 ng.10 islets-1.45 min-1 at 2.8 mM and 109.8 +/- 8.0 ng.10 islets-1.45 min-1 at 16.8 mM glucose) (P less than 0.01). Secretion by islets of glucose-infused rats was lower during 60-min second incubations at 28 mM glucose than in first incubations of the same islets in low glucose (P less than 0.01). This phenomenon is comparable to the paradoxical hypersecretion observed during the first 10-15 min of exposure of glucose-infused pancreas to low-glucose perfusions. Paradoxical secretion in low glucose waned rapidly, so that during second incubations at 37 degrees C, little immunoreactive insulin release occurred at 2.8 mM glucose, despite the persistence of two additional lesions. The glucose-insulin dose-response curves in second incubations showed a leftward shift for glucose-infused islets, with two- to threefold higher secretion at 5.6-8.4 mM glucose than control islets. This is termed sensitization to glucose.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Neuropeptide content in pancreas and pituitary of obese and diabetes mutant mice: strain and sex differences.

The nature of the primary genetic defects in ob/ob and db/db mice are unknown. Both the obese (ob) and diabetes (db) mutations produce similar, multicomponent obese-hyperinsulinemic syndromes when maintained in the same strain of mouse. In an attempt to find differences between these mutations in neuroendocrine function affecting the islets of Langerhans or the pituitary, tissue content of four neuropeptides that are known to be capable of influencing the rate of insulin secretion was examined in obese (ob/ob) and diabetes (db/db) mice. In the first study, C57BL/6Job/ob and control males were studied at 3, 4, and 11 weeks of age. In the second study, db/db mice of both sexes and two inbred strains (C57BL/6J and C57BL/KsJ), which differ markedly in the severity of expression of the diabetes phenotype, were studied at 3 weeks of age, before the development of hyperglycemia and secondary consequences thereof. Immunoreactive peptides were measured in acetic acid extracts of pancreas and pituitary. No differences between male ob/ob and db/db mice of the C57BL/6J strain were found. Marked sex differences in lean control mice were found at 3 weeks of age in pancreatic Met-enkephalin-LI and galanin-LI (with two- to threefold higher content in males). Low pancreatic content (50% to 70% lower than in control mice) of galanin-LI, Met-enkephalin-LI and Leu-enkephalin-LI was associated with hyperinsulinemia in male B6 ob/ob and db/db mice at 3 weeks of age, though not in B6 db/db females and not in BKs db/db mice of either sex.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effect of dietary carbohydrates on insulin and glucagon receptors in a new model of noninsulin-dependent diabetes-SHR/N-corpulent rat.

A new congenic strain of rat, the SHR/N-corpulent, provides a good model for noninsulin-dependent diabetes and was used in the present study. Corpulent rats as compared to their lean littermates are obese, hyperlipidemic, and severely hyperinsulinemic, and show an age-dependent loss of glucose tolerance. Mild fasting hyperglycemia is seen only in corpulent rats fed sucrose. Since dietary sucrose is more lipogenic than starch and since insulin and glucagon are involved in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, we studied the effect of the type of dietary carbohydrate on insulin and glucagon levels and their receptors in lean and corpulent SHR/N rats. A significant phenotypic effect was observed (corpulent greater than lean) on plasma levels of triglyceride, cholesterol, and insulin. Dietary sucrose increased these parameters in corpulent rats but not in lean rats. Insulin and glucagon binding to liver plasma membranes was lower in corpulent rats than in lean; decreases were due to fewer receptors without a significant change in affinity. Thus, in corpulent rats, in addition to hyperinsulinemia, fewer glucagon receptors and their failure to be regulated by plasma glucagon levels appear to contribute to the hyperlipidemia. Furthermore, the hyperglycemia observed in sucrose-fed corpulent rats may be due to extreme resistance to insulin despite lower plasma glucagon and fewer glucagon receptors.

Comparison of insulin secretory patterns in obese nondiabetic LA/N-cp and obese diabetic SHR/N-cp rats. Role of hyperglycemia.

Obese diabetic SHR/N-(cp/cp) rats are a genetic model for non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. When SHR/N-cp rats are overtly diabetic, they are hyperinsulinemic and hyperglycemic in the fed state when consuming commercial chow or semipurified high-carbohydrate diets. Obese SHR/N-cp rats were hyperinsulinemic by 4 wk of age, although hyperglycemia did not appear until 3-4 wk later and was exacerbated by a high-sucrose diet (mean +/- SE 1488 +/- 238 microU/ml insulin and 425 +/- 51 mg/dl glucose). The control SHR/N-cp rats (+/?) on the sucrose diet remained lean and normoglycemic. The obese diabetic SHR/N-cp rats showed three alterations in pancreas perfusion data (not present in control rats): 1) paradoxically high insulin secretion at low glucose levels (2.5 mM), 2) secretion of insulin in response to arginine (10 mM) in the absence of glucose, and 3) impaired response of insulin secretion to high glucose (16.7 mM). To determine whether hyperglycemia was responsible for the abnormalities of insulin secretion, perfusion studies were conducted in obese nondiabetic LA/N-cp rats and compared with the SHR/N-cp rats. The obese LA/N-cp rats resembled the corpulent SHR/N-cp rats in every way, except that they were normoglycemic on the sucrose diet. The obese LA/N-cp rats had two of the three alterations in insulin secretion shown by obese SHR/N-cp rats, lacking only the impaired response to high glucose, suggesting that hyperglycemia was required for that defect to occur.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Developmental patterns for pancreatic opioids in the rat.

Developmental patterns for rat pancreatic opioid peptides and islet hormones were studied from gestational day 20 through adulthood. Fetal tissue was obtained as well as pancreas at birth (day 0), and postnatal days 3, 7, 14, and 21, and 7 weeks. The hormones measured included insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin. The opioids measured were beta-endorphin, Met- and Leu-enkephalins, and the high molecular weight enkephalin precursors. Pancreata were pooled as necessary and extracted (acid alcohol, or hot acetic acid), and opioids were further purified on reversed-phase C-18 (Sep-pak) cartridges. In all instances measurements were made by radioimmunoassays. Precursor peptides were first digested (with trypsin and carboxypeptidase B) prior to immunoassay. All opioids and hormones except the precursors for enkephalins showed a well-defined surge in pancreatic concentration during the first postnatal week. In contrast, the precursors had the highest concentration in the fetus, and by the seventh day of life had decreased by greater than 50%. This progressive decrease may represent maturation of the enkephalin convertase and trypsin-like enzymes in the islets. The opioid and hormonal surges that we have described are similar to the surge in islet concentration of thyroid-releasing hormone (TRH) previously described in neonatal rat islets. It is suggested that these postnatal alterations in opioid and hormone concentration relate to a specific function in the development of the endocrine pancreas.

Immunoreactive beta-endorphin and met- and leu-enkephalin contents in pancreas and pituitary of corpulent (cp/cp) rats.

Previous reports have provided suggestive evidence for a role of endogenous opiates in modulating feeding behavior as well as insulin secretion from the pancreas. This evidence includes pharmacologic studies as well as studies of endogenous opioid peptides in tissues of genetically obese rodent models. In the present study, content of three opioid peptide immunoreactivities (beta-endorphin, met-enkephalin and leu-enkephalin) were measured in pituitary and pancreas of two recently described, genetically obese rats, the LA/N-cp and the SHR/N-cp. Although both of these inbred strains carry the same cp allele, the SHR-cp rat is obese and diabetic by 8 weeks of age, while the LA/N-cp is obese but remains euglycemic. There were no significant differences in content of immunoreactive beta-endorphin, met-enkephalin or leu-enkephalin in whole pituitary, posterior or anterior lobes of the pituitary, or pancreas which could be ascribed to the effect of the obese phenotype. These data are in contrast to previously reported studies in which significant alterations in opioid peptide immunoreactivities were found in genetically obese Zucker fa/fa rats, C57BL/6 ob/ob mice and C57BL/Ks db/db mice. The present work provides no support for pathological involvement of opioid peptides in the genetically obese cp/cp rat.

Simultaneous extraction of beta-endorphin and leu- and met-enkephalins from human and rat plasma.

A simple, rapid and reliable procedure is described to simultaneously concentrate and purify beta-endorphin, leu- and met-enkephalins from small volumes of human and rat plasma before radioimmunoassay is performed. It uses C18 Sep-Pak reverse phase cartridges. The effectiveness of different protease inhibitors in preventing degradation of opiates by plasma and different solvent systems for eluting opiates is also evaluated.

Increased insulin receptors in carbohydrate-sensitive subjects: a mechanism for hyperlipaemia in these subjects?

Twenty male subjects, 11 normal and 9 carbohydrate-sensitive, participated in a study in which the effect of feeding diets low in copper (1.03 mg/d) on the number and affinity of insulin receptors was determined. Since carbohydrate-sensitive subjects are hyperinsulinaemic, it was anticipated that they would demonstrate a down-regulation of insulin receptors. The subjects were fed a low copper diet for 11 weeks and then replenished with copper (3 mg/d) for 3 weeks. Regardless of diets fed, carbohydrate-sensitive subjects showed increased insulin binding. The increase was due to the number of receptors without any change in their affinity. This unusual and unexpected observation in carbohydrate-sensitive subjects suggests an altered response of the insulin receptor, namely the failure of plasma insulin to down-regulate the number of receptors. It is possible that such an alteration could lead to a shift of the biological response curve of insulin to the left in some target tissues thereby causing hyperlipaemia by diverting glucose into triglyceride. The exact mechanism of hyperlipaemia in carbohydrate-sensitive subjects remains to be clarified.

Reversible impairment of glucose-induced insulin secretion in SHR/N-cp rats. Genetic model of type II diabetes.

The SHR/N-cp rat is a new genetically obese model for non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Expression of the diabetes is enhanced by a high-sucrose (54%) diet. After 4 wk on the diet, the cp/cp rats weigh significantly more than their +/? controls, have postprandial hyperglycemia (greater than 400 mg/dl), and are hyperinsulinemic, with immunoreactive insulin (IRI) levels 10- to 20-fold greater than controls. Total pancreatic IRI tends to be increased 1.6-fold in the cp/cp rats (although not significantly). There is no increase in pancreatic proinsulin content as a percent of total IRI. Studies of in vitro pancreatic function were carried out with the isolated nonrecirculating perfused pancreas method. The cp/cp rats (n = 10) showed impaired or absent IRI responses to 16.5 mM glucose, whereas +/? rats (n = 9) responded with classic biphasic curves. Comparison of insulin secreted in 20 min revealed a greater than 53% decrease in IRI secretion in cp/cp rats (P less than .05). A paradoxical hypersecretion of IRI at glucose concentrations of 0-2.7 mM was noted in cp/cp but not lean rats, i.e., 1.8 +/- 0.2 mU/min IRI in cp/cp rats vs. 0.04 +/- 0.007 mU/min in +/? rats. Perfusion of pancreases for 45 min with buffers containing no glucose resulted in restoration of a normal biphasic IRI response to 16.5 mM glucose in the cp/cp rats, whereas response in the lean rats was markedly reduced. Brisk IRI responses to 10 mM arginine in buffers with no glucose also occurred in cp/cp but not +/? rats. Glucagon secretion was relatively suppressed in the cp/cp rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effect of dietary carbohydrates on glucagon and insulin receptors in genetically obese female Zucker rats.

Obese Zucker rats are hyperlipemic and mildly hyperglycemic. Because insulin and glucagon are involved in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism and they act via their receptors, we investigated the role of insulin and glucagon receptors in obese and lean female Zucker rats. Because dietary sucrose is more lipogenic than starch, we also studied the effect of dietary carbohydrates on the receptors. Significant phenotypic effect (obese greater than lean) was observed on plasma levels of glucose, triglyceride and insulin. Binding of insulin and glucagon to liver plasma membranes was significantly lower in obese rats than in lean rats. Lower insulin binding was due to a lower number of receptors as well as a lower affinity, whereas the lower glucagon binding was due only to a lower receptor number. Insulin binding in lean rats but not in obese rats was lower in sucrose-fed than in starch-fed rats. Diet had no effect on glucagon binding. We propose that in obese Zucker rats, in addition to hyperinsulinemia, impaired glucagon activity as manifested by decreased glucagon binding to target tissues may be an important contributor to the hyperlipemia and obesity.

Tissue somatostatin levels in three models of genetic obesity in rats.

A potential role for somatostatin (SRIF) in the pathogenesis of the hyperinsulinemia of obese rats was considered. SRIF like immunoreactivity (ng/mg protein) was therefore measured in hot 2 N acetic acid extracts of pancreas, stomach, pituitary, and hypothalamus in tissues obtained from three models of genetic obesity in rats. These models included the obese and lean controls of LA/N-cp, SHR/N-cp, and Zucker rats. To assess the effects of diet on SRIF levels, mixed diets were provided ad lib which contained a carbohydrate as either sucrose or starch. Some groups were fed chow diets. No significant dietary effects on tissue levels of SRIF were obtained. However, two of the three models (Zucker and SHR/N-cp) showed phenotypic effects on SRIF levels in pancreas; namely, obese rats showed a significantly greater concentration of SRIF (P less than 0.0005 and less than 0.0002, respectively) than did the lean littermates. These findings were confirmed by measurement of total pancreas SRIF content. Gastric levels were significantly altered only in the obese Zucker rats (P less than 0.005) where obese tissues had lower concentrations than those of lean animals. However similar directional changes in pancreas and stomach were observed in all models. It is concluded that the hyperinsulinemia of the obese animals studied is not due to absolute deficiency in pancreatic SRIF content. It is postulated however that decreased pancreatic SRIF secretion (paracrine or otherwise) relative to pancreatic insulin content could still play a role.

Copper deficiency in rats increases pancreatic enkephalin-containing peptides and insulin.

Free enkephalins (enk) and higher molecular weight enkephalin-containing peptides (enk-c-p) are present in the endocrine pancreas of rats, presumably in B cells. To determine whether these opioid peptides show dynamic alterations as insulin content of pancreas changes, we utilized a copper deficient rat model, in which the exocrine pancreas atrophies and the endocrine pancreas is "intact" and insulin (IRI) content increases. Dietary copper deficiency (-C) was produced in weanling male rats for 4 and 7 weeks. The deficient and copper supplemented (+C) groups were further subdivided to receive all dietary carbohydrate as either 62% fructose (F) or 62% starch (S). -CF rats showed the most severe deficiency. After 7 weeks, total units of pancreatic IRI in -CF were 7.5 +CF 2.1, -CS 7.9 and in +CS 2.8 (p less than 0.001). Pancreatic content of Met5- and Leu5-enk was measured in extracts which were purified on C-18 Seppaks with and without prior treatment with trypsin and carboxypeptidase B. -C animals showed progressive, significant increases in pancreatic content of Leu-enk-c-p, with a decrease in free Leu- and Met-enk (p less than 0.02-0.01). The pancreatic findings are compatible with a co-localization of enkephalins and insulin in the endocrine pancreas and are suggestive of co-regulation.

Altered beta-endorphin, Met- and Leu-enkephalins, and enkephalin-containing peptides in pancreas and pituitary of genetically obese diabetic (db/db) mice during development of diabetic syndrome.

We have recently shown that in addition to beta-endorphin the opioid peptides Met- and Leu-enkephalin and their apparent precursors are localized in islet endocrine cells of the rat pancreas. To begin evaluating a possible role for these pancreatic opiates in the pathophysiology of genetic diabetes in rodents, immunoreactive beta-endorphin and Met- and Leu-enkephalins were measured in acetic acid extracts of pancreas and pituitary of C57BL/KsJ db/db mice and their lean littermates. Groups of animals were studied during three phases of development of the diabetic syndrome in the mutant mice: at 4 (hyperinsulinemic and prediabetic); 6, 9, and 12 (frankly obese and diabetic); and 30 (hypoinsulinemic) wk of age. Elevations or decreases (P less than .05) were found in db/db mice (vs. lean littermates) as follows: pituitary content of Met-enkephalin was twofold higher at all ages studied; pituitary free Leu-enkephalin was lower at 4 wk and reversed to higher at 6-30 wk; pancreatic beta-endorphin was 30% lower at 4 wk and reversed to threefold higher at 6-12 wk; Met- and Leu-enkephalin-containing larger peptides were elevated at one or more points between 6 and 12 wk in both the pancreas and the pituitary. Thus, the onset of overt obesity between 4 and 6 wk of age was accompanied by a marked rise in both pancreatic beta-endorphin and pituitary Leu-enkephalin; similar elevations in these parameters have been reported previously in C57BL/6J ob/ob mice at approximately 12 wk of age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Opioid peptides in rat islets of Langerhans. Immunoreactive met- and leu-enkephalins and BAM-22P.

Previous studies have shown that met- and leu-enkephalins are present in extracts of whole pancreas obtained from guinea pigs and human cadavers. The present studies demonstrate that immunoreactive methionine (met)- and leucine (leu)-enkephalins present in rat pancreas are localized in islets of Langerhans. Immunohistochemical staining of fixed, whole pancreas indicated that only islet endocrine cells were heavily stained when any of four different met- and leu-enkephalin-directed antisera or an anti-BAM-22P (bovine adrenal medulla docosapeptide) antiserum was used. The peptides were characterized by a combination of gel-filtration chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and specific radioimmunoassay. Free met-enkephalin content in extracts of rat islets was 90-fold enriched over content in extracts of whole pancreas (1.72 +/- 0.35 versus 0.019 +/- 0.007 pmol/mg protein). Treatment with trypsin and carboxy-peptidase-B of high-molecular-weight peptides extracted from pancreas or islets resulted in release of additional met-enkephalin immunoreactivity, which was 39-fold enriched in islets compared with pancreas (5.90 +/- 0.58 and 0.153 +/- 0.032 pmol/mg protein, respectively). Total islet content (per milligram protein) of met-enkephalin-containing peptides was similar to that reported elsewhere for bovine hypothalamus. The immunohistochemical data as well as the enrichment of extractable enkephalins in islets compared with whole pancreas indicate that essentially all the met-enkephalin present in pancreas is localized in islets, while the presence of BAM-22P immunoreactivity in islets is consistent with biosynthesis of enkephalins in islet cells via a preprohormone, such as that described in the bovine adrenal medulla and rat brain.

Decreased plasma enkephalins in copper deficiency in man.

Twenty-four male subjects participated in a study in which the effect of feeding diets low in copper (1.03 mg/day) on plasma opiates was determined. The subjects were fed a low-copper diet for 11 wk with either starch or fructose as a major source of carbohydrate. Feeding low-copper diet decreased serum copper level significantly. In addition, plasma leu- and met-enkephalins decreased significantly while beta-endorphin levels rose. On repletion with copper (3 mg/day) for 3 wk, plasma enkephalins increased while beta-endorphin levels decreased to pretest values. These results suggest that feeding low copper decreases plasma enkephalins, which may reflect a copper-dependent process affecting enkephalin biosynthesis and/or release.

Genetic obesity and dietary sucrose decrease hepatic glucagon and insulin receptors in LA/N-corpulent rats.

A catabolic and hypolipemic effect of glucagon has been described in normal animals. We therefore studied the role of glucagon in genetically obese, hyperlipemic rats. Twelve genetically obese hyperlipemic LA/N-cp/cp (corpulent) rats and 12 lean littermates were fed either 54% starch or 54% sucrose for 12 weeks. Plasma glucagon and insulin levels and glucagon and insulin binding to liver membranes were measured. Comparing all corpulent and lean animals regardless of diet, a significant (P less than 0.0001) phenotypical effect (cp/cp greater than lean) was observed in plasma insulin levels (464 +/- 54 vs 70.3 +/- 7.6 muu/ml, mean +/- SEM). Insulin binding (2.68 vs 16.1%/50 micrograms protein) and glucagon binding (25.6 vs 47.3%/50 micrograms protein) were both significantly lower (P less than 0.0001) in corpulent rats as compared to their lean littermates. Sucrose feeding had marginal effect on plasma insulin or insulin binding. It, however, decreased glucagon binding in corpulent rats but not in their controls. A significant negative correlation was observed between plasma insulin and insulin binding, while a positive correlation was seen for plasma glucagon and glucagon binding. A significant negative correlation was observed between plasma glucagon and lipogenic enzymes (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and malic enzyme) in liver and between glucagon binding and these enzymes. We propose that in these genetically obese rats, in addition to hyperinsulinemia, impaired glucagon activity as manifested by decreased glucagon binding to target cells may be an important contributor to the hyperlipemia and obesity. A further decrease in glucagon binding in rats fed sucrose indicates that sucrose, per se, may be an additional contributory factor.

Characteristics of the interaction of the glucagon receptor, cAMP, and insulin secretion in parent cells and clone 5F of a cultured rat insulinoma.

Rat insulinoma cells, which grow in culture and secrete insulin, were used to study the mechanism of stimulation of insulin release by glucagon. The parent cell line (RIN-m) and a clone that secretes high levels of insulin (5F) had been shown to possess specific receptors for glucagon. Glucagon (1 microM) stimulated a rapid increase in cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cAMP) that was followed by an increase in insulin secretion in both cell lines. The concentration of glucagon necessary for half-maximal stimulation of cAMP was 50 nM in parent and approximately 0.5 microM in 5F, whereas the concentration required to inhibit binding by 50% was 0.5 nM and 30 nM, respectively. In 5F, the dose-response relationships for cAMP and insulin secretion were superimposable. The glucagon effects on insulin secretion and cAMP did not require either glucose or amino acids in the incubation media. No refractoriness to glucagon stimulation of cAMP or insulin was noted. It may be concluded that there are significant differences between glucagon binding and glucagon responses in parent cells and clone 5F, there are glucagon receptors that are not coupled to adenylate cyclase, and cAMP mediates glucagon-stimulated insulin release.

Cytosolic insulin-degrading activity in islet-derived tumor cell lines and in normal rat islets.

RIN-m cells, cultured from a rat insulinoma, not only bind and secrete but also degrade insulin (Diabetes 1982; 31:521-31). The insulin-degrading activity resides in the cytosol and is similar to the insulin-specific proteases previously described in muscle and other tissues. It has an apparent Km of 0.15 microM for porcine insulin in crude cell-free extracts, a competitive inhibition constant for proinsulin that is close to the Km, and a lower but measurable affinity for glucagon. The enzyme is inactive at pHs below 6.0, indicating that it is not lysosomal, is completely inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide, and exhibits apparent competitive inhibition constants (microM) for the following peptides: desoctapeptide insulin, 0.043; guinea pig insulin, 0.048; proinsulin, 0.64; insulin B-chain, 1.17; glucagon, 7.0; and cyclic somatostatin, 8.6. Highly active insulin-degrading activity was found using cell suspensions of 22 cloned and 8 subcloned cell lines derived from RIN-m as well as 11 other continuous cell lines derived from a variety of nonislet tissues of rat, mouse, and human origin. Homogenates of the original rat islet tumor and cytosol of normal rat islets also contained insulin-degrading activity. Although insulin protease is present in a variety of tissues, it may have an additional regulatory function in cells that are actively synthesizing, storing, and secreting insulin.