Insulin secretion induced by palmitate--a process fully dependent on glucose concentration

• Published in: Diabetes & metabolism Vol. 28; no. 6 Pt 2; p. 3S37
• Main Authors: Carpinelli, A R, Picinato, M C, Stevanato, E, Oliveira, H R, Curi, R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: France 01.12.2002
• Subjects: Animals; Glucose - pharmacology; In Vitro Techniques; Insulin - metabolism; Insulin Secretion; Islets of Langerhans - drug effects; Islets of Langerhans - metabolism; Keto Acids - pharmacology; Kinetics; Male; Palmitic Acid - metabolism; Palmitic Acid - pharmacology; Phospholipids - metabolism; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains
• ISSN: 1262-3636

The effect of 0.1 mM palmitate on insulin secretion by 1 hr incubated pancreatic islets was examined in the presence of different glucose concentrations (5.6 and 16.7 mM). The oxidation of both glucose and palmitate and the incorporation of [U-14C]-palmitate into lipid fractions and phospholipid species were determined. In the presence of 5.6 mM glucose, palmitate reduced insulin release by 80%. In contrast, in the presence of 16.7 mM glucose, palmitate raised the amount of insulin released by 49%. Palmitate (0.1 mM) caused a significant reduction (52%) of [U-14C]-glucose decarboxylation at 5.6 mM but it did not have any effect at 16.7 mM glucose. The decarboxylation of [U-14C]-palmitate was markedly lower (94%) in the presence of 16.7 mM, as compared to 5.6 mM glucose. [U-14C]-Palmitate was significantly incorporated into total lipid fractions in the presence of both glucose concentrations. The increase in glucose concentration from 5.6 to 16.7 mM raised by 138% the incorporation of [U-14C]-palmitate into phospholipids: phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidic acid (PA) and phosphatidylinositol (PI). PC and PA at 0.1 mM raised by three and four-fold, respectively, insulin release by incubated pancreatic islets. We postulated that palmitate (at 0.1 mM) promotes a deviation of glycerol-phosphate to lipid synthesis, decreasing glucose oxidation (at 5.6 mM) and possibly ATP/ADP ratio in the cytosol, leading to a reduction in insulin secretion. At 16.7 mM glucose concentration, the high glycolytic flux is now enough to provide glycerol-phosphate for lipid synthesis and carbons for the Krebs cycle. So, under this condition, ATP production might be not reduced. The increase in the production of PA and PC may explain the increase in insulin secretion observed at 16.7 mM glucose.