[Impaired insulin secretion in isolated islets of Goto-Kakizaki rats, an animal model of non obese type 2 diabetes, is a primary event].

The development of type 2 diabetes is associated with the impairment of insulin secretion. To evaluate the evolution of the secretory response, a chronological study comparing normal Wistar (W) vs Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats, an animal model of non obese type 2 diabetes, was done. Glucose and arginine were tested in collagenase isolated islets of Langerhans with perfusion and ELISA immunoassay techniques. Fasting glycaemia and insulinemia and glucose tolerance were also evaluated. We have seen, in W rats, a mild glucose intolerance in the first two weeks of age. GK rats were always glucose intolerant with hyperglycaemia and hyperinsulinemia at fasten after one month old. Wistar islets had a characteristic biphasic response to glucose after the first two weeks of age. GK islets were always glucose irresponsive. Arginine induced an increase in insulin secretion in both animal models, independent of age, although GK rats had always a smaller response when compared to W rats. We concluded that 1) in W rats, a biphasic insulin secretion in response to glucose is observed after the first two weeks of age, simultaneously with glycaemia stabilization 2) in GK rats, both first and second phases of glucose-induced insulin release are significantly reduced and a smaller reduction in response to arginine is observed. This beta-cell disfunction is a primary event in this model of type 2 diabetes, preceding fasting hyperglycaemia and hyperinsulinemia.