Anti-insulin actions of a bovine pituitary diabetogenic peptide on glycogen synthesis.

The site(s) of action of a bovine pituitary diabetogenic peptide that produces hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia in vivo (dogs or humans) was investigated in vitro. When rat diaphragms were incubated with the peptide in the presence of insulin, the peptide depressed insulin-mediated (a) glucose uptake, (b) glycogen synthesis, and (c) glycogen synthase activation (conversion of D to I form). Incubation with the peptide alone resulted in small increases in (a), (b), and (c). Insulin-mediated glycogen synthase kinase inactivation was inhibited when both insulin and peptide were present (d), whereas glycogen synthase kinase activity was lowered by the peptide alone. High doses of insulin completely reversed inhibitory effects of the peptide on glycogen synthesis. Therefore, the hyperglycemic and anti-insulin properties of this peptide in vivo can possibly be explained by the partial blocking action of the peptide on insulin-mediated glucose uptake and glycogenesis.