Summary
Since glucagon-like peptide-1 (7–36) amide (7–37) (GLP-1) has been found to be a potent insulinotropic hormone, it has been postulated that glucagon stimulates insulin secretion from islet beta cells through the GLP-1 receptor. We therefore examined the effects of a GLP-1 receptor antagonist, exendin (9–39) amide, on glucagon- or GLP-1-stimulated insulin release from isolated perfused rat pancreas. When infusion of 100 nmol/l exendin (9–39) amide was started 5 min before that of 1 nmol/l glucagon, the stimulation of insulin release by glucagon was similar to that found in the control situation (preinfusion with vehicle alone). By contrast, when 0.3 nmol/l GLP-1 was used in the same experimental setting, exendin (9–39) amide clearly inhibited insulin release. These results indicate that glucagon stimulates insulin release mainly through glucagon receptors but not GLP-1 receptors on islet beta cells.
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Abbreviations
- GLP-1:
-
Glucagon-like peptide-1
- BSA:
-
bovine serum albumin
- IRI:
-
immunoreactive insulin
References
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Kawai, K., Yokota, C., Ohashi, S. et al. Evidence that glucagon stimulates insulin secretion through its own receptor in rats. Diabetologia 38, 274–276 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00400630
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00400630