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RINm5F cells (an insulin-secreting cell line) were cultured on PSSO3Na microbeads under static conditions. The cell growth rate was either identical to that of cells grown on plastic wells or slower, depending on the initial cell concentration. With both supports, it was similarly influenced by the fetal calf serum concentration in the culture medium, and protein content per cell was identical. However, no spreading was observed when cells were cultured on microbeads. RINm5F cells cultured on plastic wells responded to arginine + theophylline and to leucine + theophylline by a significant increase in insulin secretion. By contrast, in cells cultured on PSSO3Na microbeads, the increase in this secretion was only slight or nil. All these abnormalities were reversible. Thus, when cells cultured on microbeads were detached and seeded on plastic wells, normal spreading and insulin secretion were observed. Lastly, PSSO3Na beads had an acute suppressive effect on insulin secretion by cells cultured on plastic wells. This study provides an example of cell-biomaterial interaction in which cell growth is possible, but with altered cell function.

The current artificial pancreases, which are not wearable, are mainly used for physiological research. However, they may also become useful tools for clinical or therapeutic investigations in diabetes mellitus. This is clearly demonstrated by our own experience of the Biostator in 300 young diabetics. The steady state regulation of plasma glucose offers a wide range of possible investigations: clinical, such as measuring insulin activity in states of insulin resistance, urinary excretion of glucose and renal threshold; therapeutic, like evaluating the hypoglycemic activity of commercial insulins, or alternative routes of insulin administration, such as the peritoneum; physiopathological, for better evaluation of metabolic alterations in diabetes by measuring the turnover of various substrates. Experience of the artificial pancreas also appears to be crucial for a better handling of the many problems involved in the design of future wearable or implantable devices.

Recently, glucagon and its second messenger, cyclic AMP, have been shown to stimulate the transcription rate of several upper eukaryotic genes (1-5). We show here that glucagon can also block gene transcription. Both glucagon and cyclic AMP were found to inhibit the transcription of the genes encoding three liver glycolytic enzymes, including L-type pyruvate kinase and aldolase B. Thus, cyclic AMP proves to be not only an activator but also an inhibitor of gene transcription in eukaryotes.

The renal metabolism and handling of [1,2-3H]aldosterone ([3H]A) was studied using isolated perfused rat kidney under different perfusion conditions. The metabolite production rate (MPR) and the urinary excretion of [3H]A together with its radiometabolites (UV/P3H) were studied. Among the formed metabolites, no acid-labile conjugate of aldosterone (ALC) was detected. The MPR was not altered in studies using nonfiltering kidney, a result that suggests that the majority of metabolites were formed without requirement of the process of glomerular filtration and tubular uptake of the hormone. High perfusion pressure (high PP) resulted in a striking increase in whole metabolic clearance rate of aldosterone (MCR[3H]A) due mostly to an enhanced urinary excretion of intact aldosterone and, to a lesser degree, to a significant increase in MPR. Factors determining the excretion rate of [3H]A and its metabolites were than investigated under administration of diuretics. Mannitol (44 mM) induced a marked increase in urine volume (UV) accompanied by a significant UV/P3H increase. Meanwhile, 0.1 mM furosemide resulted in an increase only in UV, but not in UV/P3H. These results revealed the UV dependence of aldosterone excretion in certain diuretic conditions.

Glucose oxidase (GOD) was covalently coupled to a cellulose acetate (CA) layer, using bovine serum albumin (BSA) and parabenzoquinone (PBQ) linkages. Prior to GOD coupling this CA layer was deposited on the platinum tip of a needle-type sensor and covered with an outer layer of polyurethane (PU). Such microsensors were found to be active, their GOD load reaching 1.6 to 3.0 micrograms mm-2 and their glucose response reaching 1 to 3 microA M-1 mm-2, even when the upper limit of their linear range reached 10-30 mM. Due to the multilayer structure and composition of these microsensors, small anions such as ascorbate were partially discriminated from neutral molecules such as hydrogen peroxide. When implanted subcutaneously in anaesthetized rats, sensor responses correlated correctly with blood glucose concentration but presented sensitivity coefficients significantly different to those determined in vitro: a 2 point calibration procedure was found necessary for in vivo experiments.

The isolated perfused rat kidney allows a simultaneous kinetic study of both the renal metabolism and the urinary excretion of cortisol and its metabolites in the rat. In this system, cortisol was completely metabolized within 120 minutes. The main renal metabolites of cortisol (cortisone, 20 reduced cortisol and 20 reduced cortisone) were found in the recirculating perfusate and in urine. The formation of these metabolites was quantitatively evaluated and compared to a theoretical model.