title: Concentration-dependent effects of adrenaline on the profile of insulin secretion from isolated human islets of Langerhans.
abstract: The effects of the mixed alpha/beta-agonist adrenaline on insulin secretion from isolated human islets of Langerhans were studied. In static incubation experiments, adrenaline (0.1 nmol/l to 10 mumol/l) caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of glucose-induced insulin secretion from isolated human islets. However, perifusion experiments revealed that the time-course of the secretory changes induced by adrenaline was complex. When employed at a high concentration (1 mumol/l), adrenaline caused a sustained inhibition of glucose-induced insulin secretion, which could be relieved by the addition of the alpha 2-antagonist yohimbine (10 mumol/l). By contrast, infusion of adrenaline at a lower concentration (10 nmol/l), produced a large initial potentiation of glucose-induced insulin secretion. This response was, however, short-lived and followed by sustained inhibition of secretion, which could be relieved by yohimbine (10 mumol/l). The initial stimulation of insulin secretion provoked by 10 nmol adrenaline/l was abolished when islets were incubated in the presence of the beta-antagonist, propranolol (1 mumol/l), consistent with activation of beta-adrenoceptors. In support of this, treatment of human islets with the selective beta 2-agonist clenbuterol, was also associated with marked stimulation of insulin secretion. By contrast, each of two selective beta 3-agonists tested failed to alter insulin secretion from human islets. The results indicate that human pancreatic B-cells are equipped with both alpha 2- and beta 2-adrenoceptors which can affect insulin secretion. Adrenaline interacts with both of these but the alpha 2-response is predominant and can overcome the tendency of beta 2-adrenoceptors to potentiate insulin release.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Keele University, Staffordshire, U.K.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Lacey
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Cable
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: London
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Scarpello
authors.forename: N G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D002976:Clenbuterol / Q000494:pharmacology; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D015016:Yohimbine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D015016:Yohimbine; D005947:Glucose; D002976:Clenbuterol; D004837:Epinephrine