L-arginine stimulates insulin secretion from the pancreas of normal and diabetic rats

Several reports have shown that nitric oxide (NO) stimulates glucose-induce d insulin secretion in the pancreas of normal rat but the effect of L-argin ine (a NO donor) on insulin secretion from the pancreas of diabetic pancrea s is unknown. Fragments of pancreatic tissue from normal and diabetic rats were incubated for 45 min in Krebs solution containing 100 mM L-arginine. T he supernatant was subsequently analyzed for the insulin content using radi oimmunoassay technique. L-arginine evoked large increases in insulin secret ion from the pancreas of diabetic rat. The insulin secreted from the pancre as of diabetic rat was numerically but not significantly lower compared to that of normal rat pancreas. In conclusion, L-arginine, a nitric oxide dono r stimulates insulin secretion from the pancreas of diabetic rats.