The characterization of phenazine methosulfate stimulated insulin secretion.

This investigation was initiated to characterize the stimulation of insulin secretion by phenazine methosulfate (PMS). Islets of Langerhans, isolated by the collagenase method from normal rats and rats pre-injected with either streptozotocin or 6-aminonicotinamide, were exposed to PMS under various experimental conditions and insulin secretion in response to PMS, glucose and pyridine nucleotides was determined. Insulin releasing action of PMS was dose-, time- and temperature-related, occurred in the absence of glucose, and was inhibited by epinephrine, but not by mannoheptulose. In the perifusion system, the pattern of response induced by PMS was spike-like release reaching a maximum in 5 min and declining rapidly to half-maximal value in 10 min. After exposure of islets to beta-cytotoxin either in vivo or in vitro, complete reversal of the cytotoxic effect was obtained with PMS which induced release of insulin in both normal and beta-cytotoxin islets pre-treated. It is concluded that islets depleted of coenzymes could still secrete insulin in response to a reactive proton donor, which might act by substituting for coenzymes and that the immediate action of beta-cytotoxins does not completely arrest the secretory mechanisms in islets of Langerhans.