title: Characteristics of L-glutamine transport in the perfused rat exocrine pancreas: lack of sensitivity to insulin and streptozotocin-induced experimental diabetes.
abstract: The transport specificity of L-glutamine influx in the perfused rat exocrine pancreas has been investigated using a dual isotope tracer dilution technique. During a single circulation through the isolated pancreas, an epithelial uptake of 71 +/- 1% (n = 10) was measured for L-(3H)glutamine relative to the extracellular marker D-(14C)mannitol. L-(3H)glutamine uptake was markedly inhibited during perfusion with 10 mM L-glutamine, L-histidine, L-methionine, L-serine, or L-cysteine. The system A--specific analogue alpha-methylaminoisobutryic acid and L-glutamic acid were ineffective inhibitors. L-Glutamine transport was saturable (0.05 - 32 mM), with an apparent Kt = 14 +/- 1 mM and Vmax = 13.4 +/- 0.7 mumol/min g (n = 6), and largely insensitive to perfusion with 1 mM ouabain or a sodium-free solution. In kinetic inhibition experiments, the Vmax/Kt ratio for L-glutamine remained unaltered during perfusion with 10 mM L-serine, whereas L-glutamine appeared to inhibit L-serine transport noncompetitively. Tracer L-glutamine efflux was enhanced by increasing concentrations of unlabeled L-glutamine and 10 mM L-serine. Similarly, tracer L-serine efflux was accelerated in the presence of 10 mM L-glutamine. Unlike L-serine, the transport activity for L-glutamine was not stimulated by 100 microU/ml exogenous insulin or streptozotocin-induced experimental diabetes. These findings suggest that in the exocrine pancreas, L-glutamine transport is mediated primarily by a large neutral system L.
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism*; D005973:Glutamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology; D010042:Ouabain / Q000494:pharmacology; D010179:Pancreas / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012694:Serine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D012964:Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D007328:Insulin; D005973:Glutamine; D012694:Serine; D010042:Ouabain; D012964:Sodium