title: The short-term effect of fatty acids on glucagon secretion is influenced by their chain length, spatial configuration, and degree of unsaturation: studies in vitro.
abstract: The influence of fatty acids on beta cell function has been well established whereas little is known about the role of fatty acids on alpha cell function. The aim of our study was to investigate the short-term effects of chain length, spatial configuration, and degree of unsaturation of fatty acids on glucagon secretion from isolated mouse islets and alpha tumor cell 1 clone 6 cells (alpha TC1-6 cells). Glucagon release was measured with different saturated and unsaturated fatty acids as well as cis and trans isomers of fatty acids at low and high glucose. Palmitate (0.1-0.5 mmol/L) immediately stimulated glucagon release in a dose-dependent manner from both isolated islets and alpha TC 1-6 cells. The longer chain length of saturated fatty acids, the higher glucagon responses were obtained. The average fold increase in glucagon to saturated fatty acids (0.3 mmol/L) compared to control was octanoate 1.5, laurate 2.0, myristate 2.9, palmitate 5.4, and stearate 6.2, respectively. Saturated fatty acids were more effective than unsaturated fatty acids in stimulating glucagon secretion. At an equimolar concentration, trans-fatty acids were more potent than their cis isomers. Fatty acids immediately stimulate glucagon secretion from isolated mouse islets pancreatic alpha cells. The chain length, spatial configuration, and degree of unsaturation of fatty acids influence the glucagonotropic effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Aarhus Sygehus THG, Aarhus University Hospital, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Reziwanggu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abudula
authors.forename: Jianguo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Per B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Jeppesen
authors.forename: Stig E U
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Dyrskog
authors.forename: Jianzhong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: Kjeld
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hermansen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005934:Glucagon / Q000378:metabolism*; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D051379:Mice; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D007328:Insulin; D005934:Glucagon