[Apoptosis-inducing effect of palmitic acids on rat pancreatic islet cells in primary culture: a preliminary study].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the in vitro apoptosis-inducing effect of palmitic acid on pancreatic islet cells in primary culture, thereby to understand the role of palmitic acid in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus.


METHODS
SD rat pancreatic islet cells were isolated and cultured in monolayer in vitro followed by incubation with stepwise diluted palmitic acid (0, 0.125, 0.25 mmol/L and 0.5 mmol/L respectively), and the insulin concentrations in the culture medium were determined by radio immunological methods. Morphological observation with a fluorescence microscope was conducted after double staining of the cells with PI/Hoechst 33342.


RESULTS
The glucose-stimulated insulin secretion was inhibited by palmitic acid at the concentration of 0.25 and 0.5 mmol/L, which also induced obvious cell apoptosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Palmitic acid is capable of inducing islet cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner.
Jiang
Yi-zhen
YZ
Department of Endocrinology, Nanfang Hospital, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
Xue
Yao-ming
YM
Deng
Yan
Y
Zhu
Zi-ying
ZY
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000209:etiology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D009336:Necrosis; D019308:Palmitic Acid / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D007328:Insulin; D019308:Palmitic Acid