Glyburide enhances insulin gene expression and glucose-induced insulin release in isolated rat islets.

Long-term glyburide therapy has been reported to improve glucose-induced insulin secretion in patients with NIDDM. We examined the effects of glyburide on the synthesis and release of insulin and insulin gene expression in isolated islets in vitro. Incubation with glyburide (500 ng/ml) significantly increased insulin release without affecting the insulin content. The PPI mRNA level was not increased after incubation for 1 h but was increased after incubation for 20 h. Incubation with 5 ng/ml of glyburide for 1 h or 20 h had no effect on the content or release of insulin, but incubation with 5 ng/ml of glyburide for 20 h significantly increased the PPI mRNA level and enhanced insulin release induced by 11 mM glucose. These results suggest that a high concentration of glyburide stimulates insulin release directly, while a low concentration of glyburide increases the PPI mRNA level and may thereby enhance glucose-induced insulin release.