title: The interaction of oral hypoglycaemic drugs with insulin on steroid metabolism in hepatocytes isolated from control and diabetic male rats.
abstract: 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.
authors: Molecular Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, The University, Glasgow, U.K.
authors: A H
authors: AH
authors: Hussin
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Skett
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D013256:Steroids; D014044:Tolbutamide; D010629:Phenformin