Hypersensitivity to arginine of both B and D pancreatic cells in adult streptozotocin-diabetic rats

Abstract

Abstract. Insulin and pancreatic somatostatin secretions were studied after stimulation with an arginine infusion (5 mmol/1) in isolated perfused pancreata of adult streptozotocin-diabetic rats. In the presence of 2.8 mmol/l glucose, arginine clearly stimulated insulin and somatostatin secretions in diabetic rats, whereas it was ineffective in normal rats. Thus, not only the B-cells, but also the D-cells of the pancreas from streptozotocindiabetic rats are hypersensitive to arginine. The infusion of insulin (4 U/l) did not modify this hypersensitivity of the D-cells to arginine in pancreata of streptozotocindiabetic rats.