Because sulfonylureas directly activate the exocytotic machinery, we were interested in the extent to which these compounds penetrate the beta-cell plasma membrane and the underlying molecular mechanism(s). We now provide evidence that sulfonylureas cross phospholipid bilayer membranes rapidly and effectively by a free-diffusion mechanism. Two sulfonylurea compounds investigated by 1H nuclear m...

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is released from intestinal L-cells in response to carbohydrate and fat in the diet. Despite the interest in GLP-1 as an antidiabetic agent, very little is known about the mechanism of stimulus-secretion coupling in L-cells. We investigated the electrophysiological events underlying glucose-induced GLP-1 release in the GLP-1-secreting cell line, GLUTag. Cells wer...

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a colorless, flammable, extremely hazardous gas with a "rotten egg" smell. The human body produces small amounts of H2S and uses it as a signaling molecule. The cocktail method was used to evaluate the influence of H2S on the activities of CYP450 in rats, which were reflected by the changes of pharmacokinetic parameters of five specific probe drugs: bupropion, metropro...

Plasma insulin in healthy subjects shows regular oscillations, which are important for the hypoglycemic action of the hormone. In individuals with type 2 diabetes, these regular variations are altered, which has been implicated in the development of insulin resistance and hyperglycemia. The origin of the change is unknown, but derangement of the islet secretory pattern has been suggested as a c...

The secretion of insulin from perifused rat pancreatic islets was stimulated by raising the glucose concentration from 5.6 to 20 mM or by exposure to tolbutamide. The addition of sodium lactate (40 mM) to islets perifused in the presence of glucose (5.6 mM) resulted in a small, transient, rise in the rate of secretion. The subsequent removal of lactate, but not glucose or tolbutamide, from the ...

Reproductive hormone secretions are inhibited by fasting and restored by feeding. Metabolic signals mediating these effects include fluctuations in serum glucose, insulin, and leptin. Because KATP channels mediate glucose-sensing and many actions of insulin and leptin in neurons, we assessed their role in suppressing LH secretion during food restriction. Vehicle or a KATP channel blocker, tolbu...

Pancreatic beta cells exhibit oscillations in electrical activity, cytoplasmic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+](i)), and insulin release upon glucose stimulation. The mechanism by which these oscillations are generated is not known. Here we demonstrate fluctuations in the activity of the ATP-dependent K+ channels (K(ATP) channels) in single beta cells subject to glucose stimulation or to stimula...