THE STIMULATION OF INSULIN-SECRETION BY D-GLYCERALDEHYDE CORRELATES WITH ITS RATE OF OXIDATION IN ISLET CELLS

D-Glyceraldehyde's capacity to mimic the effect of D-glucose on insuli n secretion has not yet been sufficiently substantiated. It has been r ecently proposed, however, that they might act through different mecha nisms in insulin-secreting tumoral cells. Therefore, we have performed a dose-related study of both the secretory and metabolic effects of D -glyceraldehyde on islets, which have been compared with those produce d by D-glucose. D-Glyceraldehyde's capacity to stimulate secretion was paralleled in a dose-dependent manner by its rate of oxidation to (CO 2)-C-14. Partial inhibition of D-glyceraldehyde oxidation by beta-iodo acetamide resulted in a proportional decrease in the secretory respons e. L-Glyceraldehyde, which was apparently very poorly oxidized by isle ts, did not stimulate secretion. The ratio of the maximum insulin resp onses to D-glyceraldehyde and D-glucose (57%) correlated with the rati o of their respective maximum rates of oxidation (68%). At sub-maximal concentrations there was a potentiation of the secretagogue effects o f the hexose by the triose, which was not apparent at a maximum effect ive dose of glucose. It is concluded that D-glyceraldehyde mimics the secretory effect of glucose because, similarly to the hexose, it is me tabolized through islet aerobic glycolysis. The lower potency of D-gly ceraldehyde as an insulin secretagogue than D-glucose is determined by the lower capacity of islets to oxidize the triose compared with the hexose. D-Glyceraldehyde, unlike D-glucose, is metabolized in islets t o D-lactate. Alternative routes for the metabolism of D-glyceraldehyde might explain some of the secretagogue differences between the triose and the hexose.