Effects of helodermin and VIP on insulin and glucagon secretion in the mouse. 1991

B Ahrén, and B Falck
Department of Surgery, Lund University, Sweden.

Helodermin and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) are structurally related peptides. We have examined their effects on insulin and glucagon secretion in the mouse. Following intravenous injection, helodermin and VIP equipotently increased plasma glucagon levels with a maximal effect obtained at the dose level of 2 nmol/kg. The maximal response was not augmented by giving the two peptides together at maximal dose levels, showing that helodermin and VIP stimulate glucagon secretion by activating the same mechanisms. Furthermore, both peptides markedly potentiated glucagon secretion stimulated by the cholinergic agonist carbachol, showing that they sensitize glucagon secretion for muscarinic activation. This sensitizing action was abolished by methylatropine, whereas the direct glucagonotropic action of the peptides was insensitive to muscarinic antagonism. Plasma insulin levels were not affected by helodermin but slightly increased by VIP. The study suggests that helodermin and VIP (1) stimulate basal glucagon secretion by the same mechanism, which is insensitive to muscarinic antagonism, (2) sensitize the glucagon secretion for cholinergic activation, and (3) have no or only weak effect on insulin secretion.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007328 Insulin A 51-amino acid pancreatic hormone that plays a major role in the regulation of glucose metabolism, directly by suppressing endogenous glucose production (GLYCOGENOLYSIS; GLUCONEOGENESIS) and indirectly by suppressing GLUCAGON secretion and LIPOLYSIS. Native insulin is a globular protein comprised of a zinc-coordinated hexamer. Each insulin monomer containing two chains, A (21 residues) and B (30 residues), linked by two disulfide bonds. Insulin is used as a drug to control insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (DIABETES MELLITUS, TYPE 1). Iletin,Insulin A Chain,Insulin B Chain,Insulin, Regular,Novolin,Sodium Insulin,Soluble Insulin,Chain, Insulin B,Insulin, Sodium,Insulin, Soluble,Regular Insulin
D010455 Peptides Members of the class of compounds composed of AMINO ACIDS joined together by peptide bonds between adjacent amino acids into linear, branched or cyclical structures. OLIGOPEPTIDES are composed of approximately 2-12 amino acids. Polypeptides are composed of approximately 13 or more amino acids. PROTEINS are considered to be larger versions of peptides that can form into complex structures such as ENZYMES and RECEPTORS. Peptide,Polypeptide,Polypeptides
D011976 Receptors, Muscarinic One of the two major classes of cholinergic receptors. Muscarinic receptors were originally defined by their preference for MUSCARINE over NICOTINE. There are several subtypes (usually M1, M2, M3....) that are characterized by their cellular actions, pharmacology, and molecular biology. Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptors,Muscarinic Receptors,Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor,Muscarinic Receptor,Acetylcholine Receptor, Muscarinic,Acetylcholine Receptors, Muscarinic,Receptor, Muscarinic,Receptor, Muscarinic Acetylcholine,Receptors, Muscarinic Acetylcholine
D002217 Carbachol A slowly hydrolyzed CHOLINERGIC AGONIST that acts at both MUSCARINIC RECEPTORS and NICOTINIC RECEPTORS. Carbamylcholine,Carbacholine,Carbamann,Carbamoylcholine,Carbastat,Carbocholine,Carboptic,Doryl,Isopto Carbachol,Jestryl,Miostat,Carbachol, Isopto
D005260 Female Females
D005934 Glucagon A 29-amino acid pancreatic peptide derived from proglucagon which is also the precursor of intestinal GLUCAGON-LIKE PEPTIDES. Glucagon is secreted by PANCREATIC ALPHA CELLS and plays an important role in regulation of BLOOD GLUCOSE concentration, ketone metabolism, and several other biochemical and physiological processes. (From Gilman et al., Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 9th ed, p1511) Glucagon (1-29),Glukagon,HG-Factor,Hyperglycemic-Glycogenolytic Factor,Proglucagon (33-61),HG Factor,Hyperglycemic Glycogenolytic Factor
D000078790 Insulin Secretion Production and release of insulin from PANCREATIC BETA CELLS that primarily occurs in response to elevated BLOOD GLUCOSE levels. Secretion, Insulin
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001286 Atropine Derivatives Analogs and derivatives of atropine. Atropines
D012636 Secretory Rate The amount of a substance secreted by cells or by a specific organ or organism over a given period of time; usually applies to those substances which are formed by glandular tissues and are released by them into biological fluids, e.g., secretory rate of corticosteroids by the adrenal cortex, secretory rate of gastric acid by the gastric mucosa. Rate, Secretory,Rates, Secretory,Secretory Rates
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