title: Glucose regulates the release of orexin-a from the endocrine pancreas.
abstract: Orexins (hypocretins) are novel neuropeptides that appear to play a role in the regulation of energy balances. Orexin-A (OXA) increases food intake in rodents, and fasting activates OXA neurons in both the lateral hypothalamic area and gut. OXA is also found in the endocrine pancreas; however, little is known about its release or functional significance. In this study, we show that depolarizing stimuli evoke the release of OXA from rat pancreatic islets in a calcium-dependent manner. Moreover, OXA release is stimulated by low glucose (2.8 mmol/l), similar to glucagon secretion, and inhibited by high glucose (16.7 mmol/l). Fasting increases plasma OXA, supporting the idea that orexin is released in response to hypoglycemia. Cells that secrete glucagon and insulin contain OXA and both cell types express orexin receptors. OXA increases glucagon secretion and decreases glucose-stimulated insulin release from isolated islets. OXA infusion increases plasma glucagon and glucose levels and decreases plasma insulin in fasted rats. We conclude that orexin-containing islet cells, like those in the brain and gut, are glucosensitive and part of a network of glucose "sensing" cells that becomes activated when blood glucose levels fall. OXA may modulate islet hormone secretion to maintain blood glucose levels during fasting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Raogo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ouedraogo
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Näslund
authors.forename: Annette L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Kirchgessner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D046508:Culture Techniques; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005934:Glucagon / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D064446:Orexin Receptors; D000068797:Orexins; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide / Q000378:metabolism; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D007328:Insulin; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D064446:Orexin Receptors; D000068797:Orexins; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide; D005934:Glucagon; D005947:Glucose