Hyperglycemia impairs beta-cell function. This effect is partly exerted by beta-cell over-stimulation by mechanisms that are not completely clarified. We have presently investigated whether over-stimulation alters the responsiveness of the islet adenylate cyclase-cAMP system. Effects of over-stimulation were assessed from comparisons in rat pancreatic islets after stimulation by culture for 22 h with high (27 mM) glucose or after the additional presence of diazoxide which reversibly blocks secretion. Islet ATP levels were similar under both conditions. Forskolin increased islet cAMP levels dose-dependently after culture under both conditions; however, the cAMP responses to forskolin were enhanced by the previous co-presence of diazoxide: by 354, 183 and 168% respectively in the presence of 0.1, 1.0 and 25 microM forskolin (P<0.05) or less for the effect of diazoxide. Enhancement was not diminished ! by Ca(2+ )omission during final incubations, nor by blocking Gi proteins with pertussis toxin (0.1 microgram/ml). Enhancement was dependent on the glucose concentration during culture, i.e. co-culture with diazoxide at a non-stimulatory concentration of glucose (6.0 mM) failed to affect the subsequent cAMP response to forskolin. Acute administration of glucose (16.7 mM) failed to increase islet cAMP content after culture at high glucose only, whereas a modest (about 20%) but significant stimulation was seen after co-culture with diazoxide. Co-culture with diazoxide left-shifted the insulin dose-response to a cAMP analogue 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-d> -ribofuranosyl-benzimidazole-3',5'-cyclic monophosphorothioate. We conclude that over-stimulation importantly modifies the generation of cAMP, and also affects the insulin-releasing effect of the cyclic nucleotide.

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