The interaction of oral hypoglycaemic drugs with insulin on steroid metabolism in hepatocytes isolated from control and diabetic male rats.
The effects of the oral hypoglycaemic drugs, phenformin and tolbutamide, and insulin, alone and in combination, on steroid metabolism in hepatocytes isolated from control and streptozotocin-diabetic male rats has been studied. Both phenformin and tolbutamide mimic the action of insulin in stimulating hepatic steroid metabolism in a dose-dependent manner in control cells. Unlike insulin, however, both drugs give a similar effect in cells derived from diabetic animals although to a lesser extent. Both drugs can partially restore the effect of insulin in cells derived from diabetic animals. Biguanides and sulphonylureas, therefore, have a direct effect on liver cells to mimic insulin action and can still have an effect under conditions where insulin is inactive. Both types of oral hypoglycaemics can also affect insulin-insensitive cells isolated from diabetic rat liver to restore to a certain extent their response to insulin.
Hussin
A H
AH
Molecular Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, The University, Glasgow, U.K.
Skett
P
P
D000818:Animals; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010629:Phenformin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D013256:Steroids / Q000378:metabolism; D014044:Tolbutamide / Q000494:pharmacology*
D007328:Insulin; D013256:Steroids; D014044:Tolbutamide; D010629:Phenformin