Effect of D-glucosamine on the functional maturation of cultured B cells of the neonatal rat.

The present study demonstrates the effect of glucosamine on the functional maturation of cultured B cells of the neonatal rat. When B cells had been maintained at a physiological concentration (5.5 mM) of glucose for 7 days, a drop in the stimulatory effect of 16.7 mM glucose on insulin release and biosynthesis was observed together with a reduced insulin content. By contrast, the sensitivity of glucose-induced insulin release was increased after one week of culture with 5.5 mM glucose and 5 mM glucosamine. And both the insulin content and glucose-induced insulin biosynthesis also remained at the same level as observed at the first day of culture with 5.5 mM glucose alone. In summary, it was suggested that glucosamine-supplemented culture may result in the transition of B cells of neonatal rat from a poor glucose sensitivity to adult-type response of insulin release.