title: Decreased alpha2-adrenergic receptor in the brain stem and pancreatic islets during pancreatic regeneration in weanling rats.
abstract: Sympathetic stimulation inhibits insulin secretion. alpha(2)-Adrenergic receptor is known to have a regulatory role in the sympathetic function. We investigated the changes in the alpha(2)-adrenergic receptors in the brain stem and pancreatic islets using [(3)H]Yohimbine during pancreatic regeneration in weanling rats. Brain stem and pancreatic islets of experimental rats showed a significant decrease (p<0.001) in norepinephrine (NE) content at 72 h after partial pancreatectomy. The epinephrine (EPI) content showed a significant decrease (p<0.001) in pancreatic islets while it was not detected in brain stem at 72 h after partial pancreatectomy. Scatchard analysis of [(3)H]Yohimbine showed a significant decrease (p<0.05) in B(max) and K(d) at 72 h after partial pancreatectomy in the brain stem. In the pancreatic islets, Scatchard analysis of [(3)H]Yohimbine showed a significant decrease (p<0.001) in B(max) and K(d) (p<0.05) at 72 h after partial pancreatectomy. The binding parameters reversed to near sham by 7 days after pancreatectomy both in brain stem and pancreatic islets. This shows that pancreatic insulin secretion is influenced by central nervous system inputs from the brain stem. In vitro studies with yohimbine showed that the alpha(2)-adrenergic receptors are inhibitory to islet DNA synthesis and insulin secretion. Thus our results suggest that decreased alpha(2)-adrenergic receptors during pancreatic regeneration functionally regulate insulin secretion and pancreatic beta-cell proliferation in weanling rats.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Neurobiology and Cell Biology Unit, Centre for Neuroscience, Department of Biotechnology, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin-682 022, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: V Ani
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Finla
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chathu
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Paulose
mesh_terms: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012038:Regeneration; D015016:Yohimbine / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D007328:Insulin; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2; D015016:Yohimbine