Postprandial suppression of glucagon secretion depends on intact pulsatile insulin secretion: further evidence for the intraislet insulin hypothesis

JJ Meier, LL Kjems, JD Veldhuis, P Lefèbvre… - Diabetes, 2006 - Am Diabetes Assoc
JJ Meier, LL Kjems, JD Veldhuis, P Lefèbvre, PC Butler
Diabetes, 2006Am Diabetes Assoc
Type 2 diabetes is characterized by an∼ 60% loss of β-cell mass, a marked defect in
postprandial insulin secretion, and a failure to suppress postprandial glucagon
concentrations. It is possible that postprandial hyperglucagonemia in type 2 diabetes is due
to impaired postprandial insulin secretion. To address this, we studied eight adult
Goettingen minipigs before and after an∼ 60% reduction in β-cell mass induced by alloxan.
Pigs were studied fasting and after ingestion of a mixed meal. Insulin and glucagon …
Type 2 diabetes is characterized by an ∼60% loss of β-cell mass, a marked defect in postprandial insulin secretion, and a failure to suppress postprandial glucagon concentrations. It is possible that postprandial hyperglucagonemia in type 2 diabetes is due to impaired postprandial insulin secretion. To address this, we studied eight adult Goettingen minipigs before and after an ∼60% reduction in β-cell mass induced by alloxan. Pigs were studied fasting and after ingestion of a mixed meal. Insulin and glucagon secretion were determined by deconvolution of blood hormone concentrations measured at 1-min intervals. The relationship between insulin and glucagon release was analyzed using cross-correlation and forward versus reverse cross–approximate entropy. We report that glucagon and insulin were secreted in ∼4-min pulses. Prealloxan, postprandial insulin secretion drove an ∼20% suppression of glucagon concentrations (P < 0.01), through inhibition of glucagon pulse mass. The alloxan-induced ∼60% deficit in β-cell mass lead to an ∼70% deficit in postprandial insulin secretion and loss of the postprandial insulin-driven suppression of glucagon secretion. We conclude that postprandial hyperglucagonemia in type 2 diabetes is likely due to loss of intraislet postprandial suppression of glucagon secretion by insulin.
Am Diabetes Assoc