Action of B-Hydroxy Butyrate, Acetoacetate and Palmitate on the Insulin Release in the Perfused Isolated Rat Pancreas[*]

Abstract

Insulin release in the isolated perfused rat pancreas was measured after stimulation with B-Hydroxy Butyrate, Acetoacetate and Palmitate. The perfusion medium contained either 2.75, 5.5 or 11 mM glucose or was glucose free. Neither Palmitate, B-Hydroxy Butyrate, nor Acetoacetate was capable of increasing insulin release when perfused in the absence of glucose.

With glucose (5.5 mM) Palmitate, Acetoacetate and B-Hydroxy Butyrate produced a significant increase in the insulin secretion. A greater increase was seen with Acetoacetate and Palmitate than with B-Hydroxy-Butyrate.

However, in every case, there was a decrease in the insulin secretion before reaching the end of the ketone bodies and Palmitate infusions.

Our results indicate that the mechanism through which these substances promote insulin secretion are glucose dependent and glucose 11 mM potentiates the action of B-Hydroxy Butyrate.

Isolated Perfused Pancreas - Insulin - Palmitate - Acetoacetate - B-Hydroxy Butyrate - Potentation - Glucose

1 Presented in part at the VIII Congress of the International Diabetes Federation (Brussels, July 1973), Excerpta Medica 280: 22 (1973)

2 Former Alexander-von-Humboldt Fellow.

3 Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Bad Godesberg, SFB 87 Endokrinologie Ulm.