Abstract
The rapid growth (0.8±0.3 g/day) of a transplantable insulinoma, which also contained substance P (2.9±2.3 pmol/g) and gastrin-releasing peptide (3.2± 2.1 pmoll/g), resulted in the development of hyperphagia, hyperinsulinaeinia and hypoglycaemia in rats (n=8). After a 14-day growth period, the insulinoma-bearing rats showed an increase (49%; p<0.01) in the weight of the small intestine but no significant change in stomach weight compared with control animals. The content (pmol/organ) of somatostatin, substance P, neurokinin A and vasoactive intestinal peptide in the stomachs of the tumour rats was unchanged. A depletion in the content (53% p<0.01) and concentration (57%; p<0.01) of gastrin-releasing peptide, however, suggested either hypersecretion, possibly mediated through hypoglycaemia-induced vagal stimulation, or inhibition of synthesis. The concentration and content of glucagon-like immunoreactivity (enteroglucagon) in the small intestine of the insulinoma rats increased markedly (47%; p<0.01 and 120%; p<0.01). This increase is consistent with a proposed role of this peptide as a factor trophic to the intestinal mucosa. No significant changes in the concentrations of somatostatin, substance P, neurokinin A, vasoactive intestinal peptide and gastrin-releasing peptide in the small intestine were observed. However, the increase in gut weight resulted in a greater content of vasoactive intestinal peptide (40%; p<0.01) and substance P (37%; p<0.05) in the insulinoma rats.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 334-338 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Diabetologia |
Volume | 29 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published (in print/issue) - May 1986 |
Keywords
- enteroglucagon
- gastrin-releasing peptide
- Insulinoma
- neurokinin A
- somatostatin
- substance P
- vasoactive intestinal polypeptide