Stimulation by 2-deoxy-D-glucose tetraacetates of hormonal secretion from the perfused rat pancreas

The effects of alpha- and beta-2-deoxy-D-glucose tetraacetate (1.7 and 8.5 mM) on insulin, somatostatin, and glucagon secretion from isolated rat panc reases perfused in the presence of 8.3 mM D-glucose were compared with thos e of unesterified 2-deoxy-D-glucose tested at the same two concentrations. The unesterified glucose analog caused, in a concentration-related manner, inhibition of glucose-induced insulin and somatostatin release and augmenta tion of glucagon secretion. The two anomers of 2-deoxy-D-glucose tetraaceta te, however, increased the secretion rate of all three hormones; this effec t was also related to the concentration of the esters. No obvious anomeric specificity of the secretory response to 2-deoxy-D-glucose tetraacetate was observed. These findings indicate that the insulinotropic action of hexose esters cannot be accounted for solely by the metabolic effect of their glu cidic moieties. They suggest that the A, B, and D cells of the endocrine pa ncreas are each equipped with a receptor system responsible for the direct recognition of monosaccharide esters as secretagogues. They further support the view that a paracrine effect of insulin on glucagon-producing cells do es not represent a major component in the regulation of their secretory act ivity.