Modulation by glucose and D-glyceraldehyde of glucagon and insulin secretion in the isolated perfused streptozotocin-treated rat pancreas.

In order to compare the effects of D-glyceraldehyde or glucose on glucagon secretion in insulin deficiency, the isolated streptozotocin-treated rat pancreas was perfused with arginine alone and arginine plus eigher glucose or D-glyceraldehyde. The glucagon secretion induced by arginine alone was not modified by pretreatment with streptozotocin, but the glucagon secretion induced by arginine plus either glucose or D-glyceraldehyde was less inhibited in the streptozotocin-treated pancreas. We conclude, therefore, that insulin deficiency may interfere with the metabolism of D-glyceraldehyde as well as glucose in the pancreatic A-cells, thus interfering with the inhibitory effect of glucose and D-glyceraldehyde of glucagon secretion.