Glucose-induced insulin secretion is enhanced by a preceeding glucose stimulus. The characteristics of this action of glucose were investigated in perfused pancreas and collagenase-isolated islets of Langerhans. A 20- to 30-min pulse of 27.7 mM glucose enhanced both the first and second phase of insulin release in response to a second glucose stimulus by 76-201%. This enhancement was apparent as an augmented maximal insulin release response to glucose. The effect of priming with glucose was seen irrespective of whether the pancreatic tissue was obtained from fed or fasted rats. Separating the two pulses of hexose by a 60-min time interval of exposure to 3.3 mM glucose did not abolish the potentiation of the second pulse. Omission of Ca++ as well as the inclusion of somatostatin or mannoheptulose during the first pulse abolished insulin secretion during this time period; however, only the inclusion of mannoheptulose deleted the potentiation of the second pulse. d-Glyceraldehyde, but not pyruvate, d-galactose, or 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, could substitute for glucose in inducing potentiation.
Valdemar Grill, Ulf Adamson, Erol Cerasi