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Leptin is a hormone produced and secreted from the adipose tissue. Its physiological actions include the regulation of satiety, food intake and energy balance. The production of leptin is increased by high insulin levels. Here, we demonstrate that leptin acts as an inhibitor of glucose-induced (20 mM) insulin secretion from isolated human islets. No effect was observed in the presence of lower glucose levels (2.8 and 10 mM glucose). The pancreatic beta-cell might represent a target of a direct physiological action of leptin. We suggest the presence of an "adipo-insular axis" in which leptin mediates negative feedback from the adipose tissue to the endocrine pancreas.

The incretin effect is reduced in NIDDM, although a corresponding attenuation of incretin hormone secretion does not occur. We characterized the direct interaction of GLP-I, an important incretin hormone, and leptin on insulin secretion and signal transduction in B-cells. Leptin inhibited GLP-I stimulated insulin release from the isolated perfused rat pancreas. Both phases of the biphasic insulin secretory response were inhibited. GLP-I receptor binding and GLP-I induced cAMP generation remained unchanged. Leptin reduced the GLP-I mediated increase of cytosolic Ca2+ concentration. It had similar effects on calcium elevations induced by forskolin. The effect was more pronounced during the plateau phase than during the initial peak. These effects could help to explain leptin's inhibitory effects on insulin secretion. The inhibition of GLP-I's insulinotropic effects by leptin may be an interesting aspect in the pathophysiology of NIDDM. The existence of an "adipo-insular axis" is suggested, in which leptin represents a negative feed-back signal from the adipose tissue to the endocrine pancreas.

The hormone leptin is expressed and secreted by the adipose tissue and impacts on the central nervous system. Leptin is involved in the regulation of energy balance, satiety, and body composition. The lack of active leptin results in obesity, high food intake, hyperglycemia, and hyperinsulinemia. We present data supporting effects of leptin on the endocrine pancreas. We found the leptin receptor to be expressed in insulin- and glucagon-secretin cells derived from mouse, hamster, and rat pancreas. In the isolated perfused rat pancreas leptin is a potent inhibitor of basal and glucose-induced insulin secretion, especially during the first phase of the insulin response. At isolated mouse islets and insulin-secreting INS-1 cells leptin reduced promptly and persistently the intracellular Ca2+ levels. Cytoplasmic Ca2+ oscillation amplitude was decreased and the oscillation frequency increased. These findings suggest functional active receptors for leptin on insulin-secreting B-cells. Therefore, leptin is a metabolic hormone and not only a signal to the brain indicating filled fat stores. Our data suggest that leptin is also a signal back to the endocrine pancreas that no more insulin is required to replenish fat stores. Thus, an "adipo-insular axis" operating with two arms exists: insulin and glucagon are signals to the adipocyte. This releases leptin, which could be the mediator of the respective feedback to the pancreas. A defective leptin suppression of insulin secretion could contribute to hyperinsulinemia and disturbances of glucose metabolism.

Glucagon-like peptide-I (GLP-I) is a potent incretin hormone and mediates its actions via the cyclic AMP (cAMP) pathway. The GLP-I receptor belongs to the family of seven-transmembrane domain receptors coupled to G proteins. We have analyzed the regulation of GLP-I receptor function and expression by its own ligand and the cAMP-dependent pathway in rat insulinoma-derived beta cells (RINm5F). The GLP-I receptor underwent rapid homologous desensitization, which occurred at the receptor level. This was characterized by a reduced binding capacity not mediated by protein kinase A (PKA). GLP-I receptor mRNA levels were down-regulated during incubation of cells by agents increasing cAMP levels including GLP-I itself. This effect was dependent upon time and concentration. Forskolin, the PKA activator 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-benzimidazole-3, 5-monophosphorothiotate, and GLP-I stabilized the GLP-I receptor mRNA. All induced down-regulation of the GLP-I receptor number within 3 h, a time point at which GLP-I receptor mRNA levels were not decreased. This effect was not influenced by cycloheximide. Therefore, in addition to transcriptional effects, posttranslational mechanisms exist to regulate GLP-I receptor numbers in insulin-secreting cells.

The interaction of glucagon-like peptide-I (GLP-I) and galanin in clonal endocrine pancreatic cells was characterized. By Northern blot analysis the presence of GLP-I receptor mRNA was shown in B (beta TC-1 cells) and D (RIN 1048-38) cells but not in A (INR1 G9) cells, thus confirming functional data demonstrating the absence of active GLP-I receptors on glucagon-producing cells. Galanin receptors were detected on B and D cells but not on A cells. In B and D cells galanin inhibited the GLP-I stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. Treatment of insulin- and somatostatin-producing cells with GLP-I increased intracellular cAMP levels, and this was dampened by galanin, GLP-I stimulated the activity of protein kinase A in B and D cells, which was also inhibited by galanin. Galanin alone did not influence B- and D-cell function. These data show that in the endocrine pancreas B and D cells but not A cells express GLP-I and galanin receptors. The interaction of GLP-I and galanin might act in the endocrine pancreas as a physiological inhibitor of the potent incretin hormone GLP-I. Therefore, we suggest galanin is a 'decretin'.

Glucagon-like peptide-I (GLP-I) is a potent incretin hormone that is now considered as a new therapeutic tool in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. In this study we characterized the effects of GLP-I on peptide hormone release from isolated human pancreatic islets. GLP-I stimulated insulin release in the presence of 10 mM glucose (2.8 mM glucose, 100%; 10 mM glucose, 166%; 10 mM glucose + 10 nM GLP-I, 222%) but had only a weak insulinotropic effect (128%) at 2.8 mM glucose. Glucagon release was inhibited by 10 mM glucose (2.8 mM glucose, 100%; 10 mM glucose, 72%) and by 10 nM GLP-I at 2.8 mM glucose (67%). Somatostatin secretion was increased by 10 mM glucose (2.8 mM glucose, 100%; 10 mM glucose, 166%). GLP-I stimulated somatostatin release in the presence of 2.8 mM glucose (172%). Pancreatic polypeptide (PP) secretion was enhanced by 10 mM glucose (2.8 mM glucose, 100%; 10 mM glucose, 236%). GLP-I induced PP release only in the presence of 2.8 mM glucose (184%).

In this report we demonstrate that approximately 1.1 kb of the rat glucagon gene promoter upstream of the transcriptional start site specifically directs the transcription of the reporter gene chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) (p[-1.1]GLU-CAT) in insulinoma beta-TC1 cells. On the contrary, the 350 bp closest to the transcription start site (p[-0.35]GLU-CAT) are ineffective in beta-TC1 cells. Both constructs are transcriptionally active in InR1-G9 glucagonoma cells. While protein kinase A and protein kinase C activators, acting through independent pathways, strongly increase both the transcription of p[-1.1]GLU-CAT and the accumulation of glucagon transcript in beta-TC1 cells, they are weaker activators in InR1-G9 cells. Our experiments suggest that some positive transcription control elements, necessary for the glucagon gene transcription in insulinoma beta-TC1 cells, are localized in the -350/-1100 region of the glucagon gene. Furthermore, our data indicate that glucagon gene transcription can be strongly activated through the protein kinase A pathway in some specific cellular contexts.

To determine the expression of the small-molecular-weight guanosine 5'-triphosphate (GTP)-binding protein rab3a in human endocrine pancreatic tissue, total RNA was isolated from five different human insulinomas and from normal human islets. The expression of rab3a was analyzed by Northern blots utilizing a 1,300-bp Eco RI fragment of the cDNA coding for human rab3a. As in the brain, a specific transcript of 1,800 bp was detected in all insulinomas, though with varying signal intensity. When the northern membranes were rehybridized with a radioactively labeled insulin probe, a signal was found for all five insulinomas and cells of normal islets. In contrast, normal human islets showed no detectable expression of rab3a. In conclusion, rab3a is expressed to a significant degree in human insulinoma tissue but not in normal islets.

7B2 is a 23-kDa protein encoded by a single gene that is expressed in a variety of neuroendocrine tissues. Although its physiological role has not yet been elucidated, its presence in secretory granules suggests a function in the secretory machinery of certain neuronal and endocrine cells in various species. The present study characterizes the expression of 7B2 in endocrine pancreatic cells. We demonstrate that: (i) 7B2 is highly expressed in human insulinomas; (ii) its ultrastructural localization, associated with secretory granules of A and B cells of the islets, suggests a participation of 7B2 in the secretion of insulin and glucagon; (iii) sequences located in the first intron of the 7B2 gene are required for its transcription in either insulinoma or glucagonoma cell lines; and (iv) in a B cell-like insulinoma cell line, the transcription of 7B2 is regulated by protein kinase A and protein kinase C activators, while in an A-like insulinoma cell line, 7B2 gene transcription seems to be constitutively activated.

Studies using pancreas perfusion techniques point to a physiological inhibition of glucagon release by insulin which should be mediated by A cell-residing insulin receptors. In this study, we have characterized the insulin receptors expressed in a hamster glucagonoma A cell line (INR1G9 cells) which is an accepted tool for A cell studies. In receptor binding assays 125I-insulin was displaced with a Kd of 3 nmol/l. Binding was also dependent upon time, temperature and cell number. Insulin concentration-dependently inhibited glucagon secretion (1 mumol: 59%, 100 nmol/l: 71%, 10 nmol/l: 86% of controls). In transient transfection experiments insulin inhibited proglucagon gene transcription (controls: 100%, 100 nmol/l: 54%, 10 nmol/l: 57%, 1 nmol/l: 72%, 100 pmol/l: 96%). Treatment of INR1G9 cells with insulin for 20 h induced a strong downregulation of insulin receptors (controls: 100%, 100 nmol/l: 30%, 10 nmol/l: 70%, 1 nmol/l: 73%, 100 pmol/l: 75%) and of insulin receptor mRNA levels (controls: 100%, 100 nmol/l: 42%, 10 nmol/l: 82%, 1 nmol/l: 84%, 100 pmol/l: 90%). When INR1G9 cells were transiently transfected with a hybrid gene containing the promotor/enhancer region of the human insulin receptor promotor (1,462 bp) linked to the transcriptional reporter gene chloramphenicol acetyltransferase and were treated with insulin it was demonstrated that insulin did not affect the insulin receptor gene transcription. In conclusion, INR1G9 cells express specific receptors for insulin. Insulin inhibits glucagon secretion and proglucagon gene expression via an inhibition of proglucagon gene transcription. Ligand-induced downregulation of the insulin receptor is not mediated by changes of insulin receptor gene transcription and is most likely regulated by posttranscriptional mechanisms, e.g. destabilization of insulin receptor mRNA.

This study was designed to search for the expression of the small-molecular-weight GTP-binding protein rab3a in endocrine pancreatic cell lines. Total RNA was isolated from five different cell lines (RINm5F, RIN 104836, beta-TC1, HIT-15, and INRI-G9) and from whole rat brain. The expression of rab3a was analyzed by Northern blots. Similar as in brain two transcripts of 1300 and 1800 bp were detected in RIN-cells at low stringency conditions with the predominant signal at 1300 bp. At high stringency the stronger signal was at 1800 bp. When a 300 bp PstI fragment derived from the coding region of rab3a was utilized as probe the 1800 bp signal was predominant under each condition. Only a faint band at 1800 bp occurred in preparations from beta TC1-cells and no signal at all was found in HIT-15 and INRI-G9-cells. In conclusion, rab3a is expressed in rat insulin-releasing insulinoma-derived RIN-cells with a specific 1800 bp transcription product.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is the main product of the intestinal processing of proglucagon. It is released from the intestinal K-cells into the circulation in response to the oral ingestion of food. At the pancreatic beta cell GLP-1 is a potent insulin secretagogue in the presence of elevated glucose levels, defining glucagon-like peptide-1 as a new incretin. Its action is mediated by specific receptors coupled to the adenylate cyclase system by a stimulatory G-protein. Finally, glucagon-like peptide-1 stimulates proinsulin gene expression and it is thus involved at several levels in the regulation of insulin synthesis and secretion.

The effect of helodermin (1,10,100 pmol/L), a new member of the VIP/secretin/glucagon peptide family, was investigated in glucose- (10 mmol/L) and arginine- (10 mmol/L) induced insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin secretion from the isolated perfused rat pancreas. Helodermin stimulated the somatostatin release in a concentration-dependent manner during the first (controls, 100%; 1 pmol/L, 113%, ns; 10 pmol/L, 175%, p less than 0.05; 100 pmol/L, 233%, p less than 0.05) and the second secretion phases (controls, 100%; 1 pmol/L, 117%, ns; 10 pmol/L, 210%, p less than 0.05; 100 pmol/L, 362%, p less than 0.05). There was a biphasic glucagon response with an inhibition during the first phase (controls, 100%; 1 pmol/L, 92%; 10 pmol/L, 63%, p less than 0.05; 100 pmol/L, 52%, p less than 0.05%) and a stimulation during the second phase (controls, 100%; 1 pmol/L, 117%, ns; 10 pmol/L, 210%, p less than 0.05; 100 pmol/L, 362%, p less than 0.05). Helodermin had weak stimulatory effects on pancreatic beta cells with a maximum at 10 pmol/L (first phase: controls, 100%; 1 pmol/L, 96%, ns; 10 pmol/L, 148%, p less than 0.05; 100 pmol/L, 136%, ns; second phase: controls, 100%; 1 pmol/L, 104%, ns; 10 pmol/L, 170%, p less than 0.05; 100 pmol/L, 136%, ns).

Glucagon-like peptide-I(7-37) [(GLP-I(7-37)] is an intestinal peptide hormone that has potent insulinotropic activities in vivo in response to oral nutrients, in the isolated perfused pancreas, and in vitro in cultured B cells. GLP-I(7-37) receptor binding and GLP-I(7-37)-induced cAMP generation and hormone secretion was studied using cell lines producing insulin/B cell (beta TC-1), glucagon/A cell (INR1G9) and somatostatin/D cell (RIN 1027-B2). [125I]GLP-I(7-37) bound specifically to both B and D cells but not to A cells. GLP-I(7-37) induced cAMP-formation in B and D cells with a maximum response at 10 nmol/l (B cells) or at 100 nmol/l (D cells). Insulin secretion from perifused B cells was stimulated by GLP-I(7-37) (maximum at 10 nmol/l) and 10 nmol/l GLP-I(7-37) released somatostatin from perifused D cells. GLP-I(7-37) did not influence cAMP or glucagon secretion from A cells. These data indicate that pancreatic B and D cells, but not the A cells are influenced directly by GLP-I(7-37) via binding to specific receptors. Our findings support a model of physiologic regulation of insulin secretion whereby GLP-I(7-37) released from the intestine in response to oral nutrients potently stimulates insulin secretion via an endocrine mechanism that in turn may be dampened by a feed-back suppression by the release of somatostatin. In addition, suppression of the secretion of glucagon, a hormone whose actions are counter-regulatory to those of insulin, may occur by paracrine mechanisms involving GLP-I(7-37)-mediated stimulation of both insulin and somatostatin secretion.

The priming effect of glucagon-like peptide-1 (7-36) amide (GLP-1 (7-36) amide), glucose-dependent insulin-releasing polypeptide (GIP) and cholecystokinin-8 (CCK-8) on glucose-induced insulin secretion from rat pancreas was investigated. The isolated pancreas was perfused in vitro with Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer containing 2.8 mmol/l glucose. After 10 min this medium was supplemented with GLP-1 (7-36) amide, GIP or CCK-8 (10, 100, 1000 pmol/l) for 10 min. After an additional 10 min period with 2.8 mmol/l glucose alone, insulin secretion was stimulated with buffer containing 10 mmol/l glucose for 44 min. In control experiments the typical biphasic insulin response to 10 mmol/l glucose occurred. Pretreatment of the pancreas with GIP augmented insulin secretion: 10 pmol/l GIP enhanced only the first phase of the secretory response to 10 mmol/l glucose; 100 and 1000 pmol/l GIP stimulated both phases of hormone secretion. After exposure to CCK-8, enhanced insulin release during the first (at 10 and 1000 pmol/l CCK-8) and the second phase (at 1000 pmol/l) was observed. Priming with 100 pmol/l GLP-1 (7-36) amide significantly amplified the first and 1000 pmol/l GLP-1 (7-36) amide both secretion periods, 10 pmol/l GLP-1 (7-36) amide had no significant effect. All three peptide hormones influenced the first, quickly arising secretory response more than the second phase. Priming with forskolin (30 mM) enhanced the secretory response to 10 mM glucose plus 0.5 nM GLP-1 (7-36) amide 4-fold. With a glucose-responsive B-cell line (HIT cells), we investigated the hypothesis that the priming effect of GLP-1 (7-36) amide is mediated by the adenylate cyclase system. Priming with either IBMX (0.1 mM) or forskolin (2.5 microM) enhanced the insulin release after a consecutive glucose stimulation (5 mM). This effect was pronounced when GLP-1 (7-36) amide (100 pM) was added during glucose stimulation. Priming capacities of intestinal peptide hormones may be involved in the regulation of postprandial insulin release. The incretin action of these hormones can probably, at least in part, be explained by these effects. The priming effect of GLP-1 (7-36) amide is most likely mediated by the adenylate cyclase system.

The effects of two recently isolated mammalian FMRFamide related peptides (A-18-F-amide and F-8-F-amide) on the encocrine and exocrine rat pancreas were investigated. A-18-F-amide (10, 100, 1000 pM) inhibited concentration dependently glucose (10 mM)- and arginine (10 mM)-induced insulin secretion from the isolated perfused rat pancreas during the first (controls: 100%; 10 pM: 114%; 100 pM: 63%, p less than 0.05; 1000 pM: 31%, p less than 0.05) and the second secretion phase (controls: 100%; 10 pM: 102%; 100 pM: 78%; 1000 pM: 27%, p less than 0.05). The inhibitory actions of A-18-F-amide on pancreatic D-cell secretion were more pronounced during the first than the second phase (first phase: controls: 100%; 10 pM: 95%; 100 pM: 37%, p less than 0.05; 1000 pM: 39%, p less than 0.05%; second phase: controls: 100%; 10 pM: 113%; 100 pM: 72%; 1000 pM: 59%, p less than 0.05). F-8-F-amide (at 1000 pM) inhibited stimulated insulin (controls: 100%; first phase: 26%, p less than 0.05%; second phase: 20%, p less than 0.05) and somatostatin release (controls: 100%; first phase: 14%, p less than 0.05; second phase: 29%, p less than 0.05). Both peptides were without effect on basal and CCK-8-stimulated amylase release from isolated incubated rat pancreatic acini.

The synergistic impact of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) (7-36)amide and cholecystokinin-8 (CCK-8) was studied in the rat pancreas. The GLP-1 (7-36)amide (1 pM-1 microM) had no effect on the basal or CCK-stimulated (1 nM-1 pM) amylase release from isolated pancreatic acini. The insulinotropic action of 0.5 nM GLP-1 (7-36)amide, which weakly stimulated the glucose-induced (6.7 mM) insulin release from the isolated perfused rat pancreas, was strongly potentiated by the addition of CCK-8 (20, 50, and 100 pM) to the perfusate. In concentrations as they occur physiologically after a meal, CCK-8 alone had no significant effect on basal or glucose-stimulated (6.7 mM) insulin secretion. Our data support the assumption that the nutrient-regulated intestinal release of various peptides represents a regulatory system to ensure an adequate insulin response to food intake, at least in rats.

The effect of synthetic rat amylin (10,100,1000 pmol/l) on glucose (10 mmol/) and arginine (10 mmol/l) -stimulated islet hormone release from the isolated perfused rat pancreas and on amylase release from isolated pancreatic acini was investigated. Amylin stimulated the insulin release during the first (+76%) and the second secretion period (+42%) at 1 nmol/l. The first phase of the glucagon release was inhibited concentration dependently by amylin and completely suppressed during the second phase. Amylin diminished the somatostatin release in a concentration dependent manner. This effect was more pronounced at the first than the second secretion period (1 nmol amylin: 1 phase: -60%, 2.phase: -22%). Amylin was without any effect on basal and CCK stimulated amylase release from isolated rat pancreatic acini. Our data suggest amylin, a secretory product of pancreatic B-cells, as a peptide with approximately strong paracrine effects within the Langerhans islet. Therefore, amylin might be involved in the regulation of glucose homeostasis.

The effect of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF; 1, 10, 100, 1000 pmol/l) on insulin release from the isolated perfused rat pancreas was studied. ANF weakly augmented the glucose (10 mmol/l)-stimulated insulin release during the second (controls: 100%; 1 pmol/l: 99%; 10 pmol/l: 149%, P less than 0.05; 100 pmol/l: 111%; 1000 pmol/l 135%), but not the first phase of the secretory response. In contrast, the first, but not the second phase of arginine (10 mmol/l)-stimulated insulin release was significantly enhanced by ANF (1000 pmol/l; controls: 100%; 1000 pmol/l: 235%, P less than 0.05). The hormone did not influence basal insulin secretion. Our data indicate an insulinotropic effect of ANF on the rat pancreas, which is dependent on the utilized background secretagogues.

Cyclosporine was fed to male Wistar rats in a dose of 5, 10, or 50 mg/kg b.wt. for 7 days, and the effect on insulin secretion from the isolated perfused pancreas was investigated. Dose-dependently plasma insulin and pancreatic insulin content decreased while whole-blood CsA levels increased. An increase in blood glucose was only observed after feeding 50 mg/kg b.wt. CsA resulting in whole-blood CsA levels of 7735 ng/ml. Glucose (20 mM)-stimulated total insulin secretion (ng/50 min) was not affected during feeding 5 mg/kg b.wt. CsA, but was significantly reduced after feeding 10 or 50 mg/kg b.wt. CsA. The biphasic insulin secretion was reduced after 5 mg/kg b.wt. during the initial peak (0-10 min) but not during the second peak (10-50 min), whereas after 10 or 50 mg/kg b.wt. CsA both peaks were markedly reduced. The arginine (20 mM) and the arginine (20 mM)-plus-glucose (20 mM) stimulated insulin secretion was less affected after feeding 10 mg/kg b.wt. CsA than after stimulation with glucose (20 mM) alone. The addition of CsA to the perfusate did not influence glucose-stimulated insulin release from normal rat pancreas. Our results demonstrate a toxic effect of CsA on the pancreatic beta cell that is dose dependent and possibly influences both insulin secretion and biosynthesis.

The interaction of glucagon-like peptide-1 (7-36)amide (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulin-releasing polypeptide (GIP) on insulin release from the perfused rat pancreas was studied. The GLP-1 stimulated (0.5 nmol/l), glucose-induced (6.7 mmol/l) insulin secretory answer was enhanced by GIP (0.1, 1.0 and 10.0 nmol/l) to the arterial perfusate. This effect was maximal at 1 nmol/l GIP and smaller but still significant at 0.1 nmol/l GIP. The high GIP concentration of 10 nmol/l GIP did not further increase insulin secretion compared to the stimulation by 1 nmol/l GIP. Our data demonstrate an additive synergistic effect of GLP-1 and GIP on the glucose-induced insulin release. This supports the concept of an action "in concert' of gastrointestinal incretin hormones postprandially released on the endocrine pancreas to guarantee adequate insulin answers after meals.

Cyclosporin A (CyA) was fed to male Wistar rats in a dose of 5, 10 or 50 mg/kg b.wt. for 7 days. In another experimental procedure 10 mg/kg b.wt. CyA was given for 7 days combined with Diltiazem (DIL) 6.25 mg/kg b.wt. once daily ip. Glucose stimulated insulin secretion from the isolated perfused pancreas was investigated in these animals. Total insulin secretion (ng/50 min) was not affected after feeding 5 mg/kg b.wt. CyA, but was significantly decreased with 10 and 50 mg/kg b.wt. CyA. The biphasic insulin secretion was reduced after 5 mg/kg b.wt. CyA during the initial peak (0-10 min) but not during the second peak (10-50 min), whereas after 10 and 50 mg/kg b.wt. CyA both peaks nearly reached base-line levels. DIL markedly increased the initial peak (0-10 min) after feeding CyA 10 mg/kg b.wt., whereas the second peak was not affected. Our results demonstrate a toxic effect of CyA on the pancreatic B-cell, which might be partly abolished by calcium-antagonists.

The effect of the calcium channel blocker diltiazem on stimulated insulin release from the isolated perfused rat pancreas was studied. Rats were treated for seven days with three dosages of diltiazem. Both phases of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from the isolated perfused rat pancreas were diminished dose dependently.

The influence of an absorbable glucosidase inhibitor (Bay o 1248) on the endocrine and exocrine rat pancreas was evaluated. Rats fed a standard diet containing Bay o 1248 over 10 days consumed less food, gained about 30% less body weight than controls and showed meteorism. In these animals postprandial plasma insulin and glucose levels were decreased, but the total pancreatic insulin content was not different versus controls. The early insulin secretory response studied by pancreas perfusions was found reduced after a stimulatory glucose load (10 mM). Addition of the glucosidase inhibitor (1 mM) to the incubation medium diminished the glucose-induced insulin release from isolated islets of rats fed a standard diet. The compound added to the perfusion medium (10 microM) induced a slight reduction of half-maximal glucose-induced (10 mM) insulin release from the perfused pancreas. This inhibitory effect disappeared during maximal stimulation (20 mM glucose) of insulin secretion. The compound neither altered basal nor arginine-induced (15 mM) insulin release from the perfused organ. The exocrine pancreas was studied after feeding a Bay o 1248-enriched standard diet over 10 days. Amylase and trypsin concentration and total output into the biliary-pancreatic juice in response to CCK and secretin (20 IU or CU/kg body weight each) were diminished. The pancreatic enzyme content did not differ compared to controls. A significant role of carbohydrate maldigestion, systemic effects of the glucosidase inhibitor, and endocrine-exocrine pancreatic interrelations are discussed to account for the effects of the compound on the rat pancreas.