Lixisenatide resensitizes the insulin-secretory response to intravenous glucose challenge in people with type 2 diabetes--a study in both people with type 2 diabetes and healthy subjects.

AIMS: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists improve blood glucose control by enhancing glucose-sensitive insulin release, delaying gastric emptying and reducing postprandial glucagon secretion. The studies reported here investigated the insulin response to an intravenous (iv) glucose challenge after injection of lixisenatide (LIXI) 20 µg or placebo. METHODS: Two single-centre, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, single-dose, crossover studies were performed in healthy subjects (HS) and people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Participants received subcutaneous LIXI or placebo 2 h before an iv glucose challenge. Study endpoints included first- and second-phase insulin response, insulin concentration (INS), glucagon response and glucose disposal rate (K(glucose)). LIXI exposure was measured over 12 h. RESULTS: LIXI 20 µg reached maximum concentration after 2 h and resensitized first-phase insulin secretion by 2.8-fold in T2DM to rates comparable with those in HS on placebo, and raised second-phase insulin secretion by 1.6-fold in T2DM. INS rose correspondingly and glucose disposal was accelerated by 1.8-fold in T2DM. First-phase insulin secretion and glucose disposal were also augmented by LIXI in HS, whereas second-phase insulin secretion reduced blood glucose concentrations to below fasting levels and then ceased, accompanied by a rapid, short-lasting rise in glucagon. Otherwise, suppression of glucagon release subsequent to augmentation of insulin release was unaffected in T2DM and in HS. CONCLUSIONS: LIXI resensitized the insulin response to an iv glucose challenge in people with T2DM, thereby accelerating glucose disposal to nearly physiological intensity, and did not impair counter-regulation to low glucose levels by glucagon.

Effects of Hoe 065, a compound structurally related to inhibitors of angiotensin converting enzyme, on acetylcholine metabolism in rat brain.

Hoe 065, a compound structurally related to inhibitors of angiotensin converting enzyme, caused a fall in the content of acetylcholine (ACh) in different brain areas of the rat following i.p. administration in the range 0.03-30 mg/kg. This effect occurred 0.5 h after a single injection and lasted for at least 6 h. Simultaneous administration of the choline uptake inhibitor hemicholinium-3 (HC-3) with Hoe 065 potentiated the decrease in ACh content induced by HC-3. In the same dose range Hoe 065 acutely enhanced the activity of the enzyme choline acetyltransferase as well as the capacity of the high-affinity choline uptake system which is considered as the rate-limiting step in the synthesis of ACh. Cholinesterase activity in vivo was not altered by the compound. Hoe 065 produced a concurrent elevation of brain cyclic GMP content. Taken together, these results suggest that Hoe 065 acutely increases cholinergic activity within its physiological range, probably by means of an enhanced release of ACh.

DesArg9-D-Arg[Hyp3,Thi5,D-Tic7,Oic8]bradykinin (desArg10-[Hoe140]) is a potent bradykinin B1 receptor antagonist.

DesArg9-D-Arg[Hyp3,Thi5,D-Tic7,Oic8]BK is a potent and stable B1 bradykinin (BK) receptor antagonist which was one order of magnitude more potent (IC50 1.2 x 10(-8) M) in the isolated rabbit aorta than the known selective B1 BK receptor antagonist, desArg9-[Leu8]BK (IC50 1.1 x 10(-7) M). DesArg9-D-Arg[Hyp3,Thi5,D-Tic7,Oic8]BK is the desArg10 derivative of Hoe140, a new, potent, stable, selective and long-acting B2 BK receptor antagonist. In B2 organ preparation it was three orders of magnitude less potent than Hoe140. Since it is potent and stable it could contribute to the investigation of B1 BK receptor function.

Effects of the novel compound, Hoe 065, upon impaired learning and memory in rodents.

The effects of Hoe 065 (n-octyl 2-[N-[(S)-1-ethoxycarbonyl-3-phenylpropyl]-L-alanyl]-(1S,3S, 5S)-2-azabicyclo [3.3.0]octane-3-carboxylate maleate salt) were studied on the performance of mice and rats in different learning tasks. Hoe 065 prevented the disruption of memory induced by scopolamine administered before training. The results indicate that Hoe 065 improves cognitive function in different tasks.