Glucagon-like Immunoreactivity Research Articles

The Enigmatic N-Terminal Domain of Proglucagon; A Historical Perspective.

Enteroglucagon refers to the predominant peptide with glucagon-like immunoreactivity (GLI) that is released by the intestine into the circulation in response to nutrients. Development of a radioimmunoassay for glucagon revealed issues that were not apparent in applications of the insulin radioimmunoassay. The fact that some antisera raised against glucagon recognized glucagon-related peptides in extracts of both pancreas and gut whereas others recognized only components in the pancreas remained a mystery until it was realized that the “gut GLI cross-reactive” antisera were directed against an epitope in the N-terminal to central region of glucagon whereas the “pancreatic glucagon specific” antisera were directed against an epitope in the C-terminal region. Unlike the cross-reactive antisera, the glucagon specific antisera did not recognize components in which glucagon was extended from its C-terminus by additional amino acids. Initial attempts to purify enteroglucagon from porcine ileum led to the erroneous conclusion that enteroglucagon comprised 100 amino acids with an apparent molecular mass of 12,000 Da and was consequently given the name glicentin. Subsequent work established that the peptide constituted residues (1-69) of proglucagon (Mr 8128). In the 40 years since the structural characterization of glicentin, attempts to establish an unambiguous physiological function for enteroglucagon have not been successful. Unlike the oxyntomodulin domain at the C-terminus of enteroglucagon, the primary structure of the N-terminal domain (glicentin-related pancreatic peptide) has been poorly conserved among mammals. Consequently, most investigations of the bioactivity of porcine glicentin may have been carried out in inappropriate animal models. Enteroglucagon may simply represent an inactive peptide that ensures that the intestine does not release equimolar amounts of a hyperglycemic agent (glucagon) and a hypoglycemic agent (GLP-1) after ingestion of nutrients.

Investigating Intestinal Glucagon After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery.

After Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery, postprandial plasma glucagon concentrations have been reported to increase. This occurs despite concomitant improved glucose tolerance and increased circulating plasma concentrations of insulin and the glucagon-inhibiting hormone glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1). To investigate whether RYGB-induced hyperglucagonemia may be derived from the gut. Substudy of a prospective cross-sectional study at a university hospital in Copenhagen, Denmark. Morbidly obese individuals undergoing RYGB (n = 8) with or without type 2 diabetes. Three months before and after RYGB, participants underwent upper enteroscopy with retrieval of gastrointestinal mucosal biopsy specimens. Mixed-meal tests were performed 1 week and 3 months before and after RYGB. The 29-amino acid glucagon concentrations in plasma and in mucosal gastrointestinal biopsy specimens were assessed using mass spectrometry-validated immunoassays, and a new monoclonal antibody reacting with immunoreactive glucagon was used for immunohistochemistry. Postprandial plasma concentrations of glucagon after RYGB were increased. Expression of the glucagon gene in the small intestine increased after surgery. Glucagon was identified in the small-intestine biopsy specimens obtained after, but not before, RYGB. Immunohistochemically, mucosal biopsy specimens from the small intestine harbored cells costained for GLP-1 and immunoreactive glucagon. Increased concentrations of glucagon were observed in small-intestine biopsy specimens and postprandially in plasma after RYGB. The small intestine harbored cells immunohistochemically costaining for GLP-1 and glucagon-like immunoreactivity after RYGB. Glucagon derived from small-intestine enteroendocrine l cells may contribute to postprandial plasma concentrations of glucagon after RYGB.

Differences in the content of glucagon-like immunoreactivity in rat submaxillary glands.

Two different antisera which specifically reacted with either the C- or N-terminal region of pancreas glucagon were employed to determine the concentration of glucagon and glucagon-like immunoreactivity in extracts from submaxillary glands of rats. The content of glucagon and glucagon-like immunoreactivity increased with age and was found to be higher in adult males than in females. Pancreas glucagon immunoreactivity constituted only a small proportion of the total glucagon-like immunoreactivity. The role that glucagon-like peptides present in the submaxillary gland of rats might play in the glucose homeostasis remains still unknown.

Characterization of response of gut GLI to fat ingestion in dogs.

Previous study from our laboratory demonstrated that an increased release of gut glucagon-like immunoreactivity (GLI) following triglyceride digestion was not observed in pancreatectomized dogs. Therefore, in order to clarify the response of gut GLI to triglyceride ingestion, experimental study was carried out in normal and pancreatectomized dogs. When butter was administered to pancreatectomized dogs in combination with pancreatic enzymes, plasma glucagon (IRG) measured by specific antiserum did not change significantly but plasma triglyceride as well as plasma total immunoreactive glucagon (total IRG) measured by nonspecific antiserum increased. Oral administration of glycerol induced no significant increase in plasma IRG but elicited a moderate increase of plasma total IRG. Gastric instillation of palmitic acid induced a remarkable rise of plasma total IRG in normal dogs, whereas plasma IRG did not reveal any changes. Oral administration of triglyceride of medium chain fatty acid, tricaprylin, did not promote any rise of plasma IRG but a slight increase of plasma total IRG. From the present experiment, it is concluded that hydrolysis of triglyceride and its metabolites are important in the release of gut GLI following fat ingestion. Among its metabolites, long chain fatty acid and glycerol promote the GLI secretion, whereas medium chain fatty acid does not.

Major contributions of comparative endocrinology to the development and exploitation of the incretin concept

An incretin is a factor released by the gut in response to nutrients that facilitates uptake of glucose by peripheral tissues. The incretin concept predates the discovery of insulin but it is now clear that incretins act by stimulating secretion of this hormone. As glucagon has insulin-releasing activity, it was speculated that intestinal glucagon-like immunoreactivity (enteroglucagon) was involved in the incretin effect but it was an achievement in the field of comparative endocrinology that led to the demonstration that the preproglucagon gene encodes the most potent incretin in the human. Characterization of cloned cDNAs encoding two preproglucagons from the Brockmann body of the anglerfish Lophius americanus demonstrated that the glucagon sequence is flanked by a 34 amino-acid-residue sequence with appreciable structural similarity to glucagon that was termed glucagon-like peptide (GLP). A 36 amino-acid-residue ortholog of anglerfish GLP was subsequently identified in human preproglucagon but this peptide had only weak insulin-releasing activity. However, alignment of GLP sequences from human and teleost fish showed that the human ortholog is extended from its N-terminus by a hexapeptide. Removal of this extension by an endogenous protease generates GLP-1-(7-36)amide, the potent and effective form of the incretin. More recently, comparative endocrinology has contributed to the exploitation of incretins as antidiabetic drugs. Exendin-4, a GLP-1 receptor agonist first isolated from the venom of the Gila monster Heloderma suspectum, is a clinically valuable, long-acting incretin and the skins of several species of frogs synthesize potent insulin-releasing peptides with therapeutic potential.

Changes in glucagon kinetics and processing in patients with acute pancreatitis

The kinetics of the pancreatic hormone glucagon in patients with acute pancreatitis have not been investigated as carefully as those of insulin, in spite of its crucial influence on energy metabolism. In the present study, we studied the kinetics of glucagon and glucagon-related peptides assessed by radioimmunoassay. Furthermore, the molecular forms of these peptides were examined using gel filtration chromatography, and the glucagon processes in the pancreas and intestine in the early stage in patients with acute pancreatitis were investigated. Fourteen patients with acute pancreatitis were enrolled in this study. Eight had severe pancreatitis (group S) and six had mild pancreatitis (group M). Ten healthy volunteers were also enrolled as the normal control (group C). Serum levels of glucagon and glucagon-related peptides were assessed on the second admission day in groups S and M, and in an early morning fasting state in group C, using glucagon non-specific N-terminal (glucagon-like immunoreactivity: GLI) and specific C-terminal (immunoreactive glucagon: IRG) radioimmunoassays. The molecular forms of these peptides were also estimated using gel filtration chromatography. We then discuss the glucagon processes based on these findings. Serum GLI and IRG in groups S and M were significantly higher than those of group C (P < 0.01), while those in group S were also significantly higher than those in group M (P < 0.05). In all patients in groups S and M, except for only three in group S, a peculiar glicentin-like peptide (GLLP: MW about 8000) other than pancreatic glucagon was observed in IRG gel filtration chromatography, which was clearly absent from group C. The kinetics and processing of glucagon in patients with acute pancreatitis were quite different from those of healthy subjects. In patients with acute pancreatitis, the peculiar processing of glucagon proceeded in the intestine quite differently from ordinary glucagon processing either in the pancreas or in the intestine, generating a peculiar GLLP.

Monounsaturated Fatty Acid Diets Improve Glycemic Tolerance through Increased Secretion of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1

Diets enriched in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA)s have been shown to benefit glycemic control. Furthermore, MUFAs specifically stimulate secretion of the antidiabetic hormone, Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) in vitro. To determine whether the MUFA-induced benefit in glycemic tolerance in vivo is due to increased GLP-1 release, lean Zucker rats were pair-fed a synthetic diet containing 5% fat derived from either olive oil (OO; 74% MUFA) or coconut oil (CO; 87% saturated fatty acids; SFA) for 2 weeks. Food intake and body weight gain were similar for both groups over the feeding period. The OO group had improved glycemic tolerance compared with the CO group in both oral and duodenal glucose tolerance tests [area under curve (AUC) 121 ± 61 vs. 290 ± 24 mm·120 min, P < 0.05; and 112 ± 28 vs. 266 ± 65 mm·120 min, P < 0.05, respectively]. This was accompanied by increased secretion of gut glucagon-like immunoreactivity (gGLI; an index of GLP-1 levels) in the OO rats compared with the CO rats (402 ± 96 vs. 229 ± 33 pg/ml at t = 10 min, P < 0.05). Tissue levels of GLP-1 and plasma insulin and glucagon levels were not different between the two groups. To determine the total contribution of GLP-1 to the enhanced glycemic tolerance in OO rats, the GLP-1 receptor antagonist exendin9–39 (Ex9–39) was infused 3 min before a duodenal glucose tolerance test. Ex9–39 abolished the benefit in glycemic tolerance conferred by OO feeding (OO+Ex9–39vs. CO+Ex9–39, P = NS), and resulted in a deterioration of glycemic tolerance in the OO+Ex9–39 group when compared with the OO controls (AUC 331 ± 21 vs. 112 ± 28 mm·120 min, P < 0.05). To probe the mechanism by which the OO diet enhanced GLP-1 secretion, a GLP-1-secreting L cell line was incubated for 24 h with either 100 μm oleic acid (MUFA) or 100μ m palmitic acid (SFA) and subsequently challenged with GIP, a known stimulator of the L cell. Preexposure to oleic acid but not to palmitic acid significantly increased GIP-induced GLP-1 secretion when compared with controls (55 ± 12% vs. 34 ± 9%, P < 0.01). These results demonstrate that the benefit in glycemic tolerance obtained with MUFA diets occurs in association with increased GLP-1 secretion, through a mechanism of enhanced L cell sensitivity. These results suggest that diet therapy with MUFAs may be useful for the treatment of patients with impaired glucose tolerance and/or type 2 diabetes through increased GLP-1 secretion.

Monounsaturated fatty acid diets improve glycemic tolerance through increased secretion of glucagon-like peptide-1.

Diets enriched in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA)s have been shown to benefit glycemic control. Furthermore, MUFAs specifically stimulate secretion of the antidiabetic hormone, Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) in vitro. To determine whether the MUFA-induced benefit in glycemic tolerance in vivo is due to increased GLP-1 release, lean Zucker rats were pair-fed a synthetic diet containing 5% fat derived from either olive oil (OO; 74% MUFA) or coconut oil (CO; 87% saturated fatty acids; SFA) for 2 weeks. Food intake and body weight gain were similar for both groups over the feeding period. The OO group had improved glycemic tolerance compared with the CO group in both oral and duodenal glucose tolerance tests [area under curve (AUC) 121 +/- 61 vs. 290 +/- 24 mM.120 min, P < 0.05; and 112 +/- 28 vs. 266 +/- 65 mM.120 min, P < 0.05, respectively]. This was accompanied by increased secretion of gut glucagon-like immunoreactivity (gGLI; an index of GLP-1 levels) in the OO rats compared with the CO rats (402 +/- 96 vs. 229 +/- 33 pg/ml at t = 10 min, P < 0.05). Tissue levels of GLP-1 and plasma insulin and glucagon levels were not different between the two groups. To determine the total contribution of GLP-1 to the enhanced glycemic tolerance in OO rats, the GLP-1 receptor antagonist exendin(9-39) (Ex(9-39)) was infused 3 min before a duodenal glucose tolerance test. Ex(9-39) abolished the benefit in glycemic tolerance conferred by OO feeding (OO+Ex(9-39) vs. CO+Ex(9-39), P = NS), and resulted in a deterioration of glycemic tolerance in the OO+Ex(9-39) group when compared with the OO controls (AUC 331 +/- 21 vs. 112 +/- 28 mM.120 min, P < 0.05). To probe the mechanism by which the OO diet enhanced GLP-1 secretion, a GLP-1-secreting L cell line was incubated for 24 h with either 100 microM oleic acid (MUFA) or 100 microM palmitic acid (SFA) and subsequently challenged with GIP, a known stimulator of the L cell. Preexposure to oleic acid but not to palmitic acid significantly increased GIP-induced GLP-1 secretion when compared with controls (55 +/- 12% vs. 34 +/- 9%, P < 0.01). These results demonstrate that the benefit in glycemic tolerance obtained with MUFA diets occurs in association with increased GLP-1 secretion, through a mechanism of enhanced L cell sensitivity. These results suggest that diet therapy with MUFAs may be useful for the treatment of patients with impaired glucose tolerance and/or type 2 diabetes through increased GLP-1 secretion.

Glucagon-like Immunoreactivity in the Forebrain and Pituitary of the Teleost, Clarias batrachus (Linn.)

The organization of glucagon-like immunoreactivity (GLI) in the olfactory system, forebrain, and pituitary was investigated in the teleost Clarias batrachus. Weak to moderate GLI was seen in some olfactory receptor neurons and basal cells of the olfactory epithelium. Intense GLI was seen in the olfactory nerve fascicles that ran caudally to the bulb, spread over in the olfactory nerve layer, and profusely branched in the glomerular layer to form tufts organized as spherical neuropils; some of the immunoreactive fibers seem to closely enfold the mitral cells. In the inner cell layer of the bulb, some granule cells were intensely immunoreactive. Although there were thick fascicles of immunoreactive fibers in the medial olfactory tracts (MOT), the lateral olfactory tracts were generally devoid of immunoreactivity. Immunoreactive fibers in the medial olfactory tract penetrated into the telencephalon from its rostral pole and entered into the area ventralis telencephali/pars ventralis where the compact fiber bundles loosen somewhat and course dorsocaudally into the area ventralis telencephali/pars supracommissuralis just above the anterior commissure. While some immunoreactive fibers decussated in the anterior commissure, fine fibers were seen in the commissure of Goldstein. Isolated immunoreactive fibers of the medial olfactory tract were traced laterally into the area dorsalis telencephali/pars lateralis ventralis and mediodorsally into the area dorsalis telencephali/pars medialis. However, a major component of the MOT continued dorsocaudally into the thalamus and terminated in the habenula. Two immunoreactive neuronal groups and some isolated cells were seen in the periventricular region of the thalamus. Although nucleus preopticus showed no immunoreactivity, some neurons of the nucleus lateralis tuberis displayed moderate GLI. Several immunoreactive cells were seen in the pars intermedia of the pituitary gland; few were encountered in the rostral pars distalis and proximal pars distalis. Immunoreactive fibers were seen throughout the pituitary gland.

Short bowel, short answer?

See article on page 559 The paper by Jeppsen et al (see page559) shows that glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) concentrations are low in patients lacking an ileum and colon. This is...

Effect of ileojejunal transposition on gastrointestinal motility, gastric emptying, and small intestinal transit in dogs

There is speculation that enteroglucagon and peptide YY are responsible for mediating the “ileal brake” known as a suppressive reaction of upper gastrointestinal motility and transit that is induced by the infision of nutrients into the ileum. We studied changes in motility and transit in dogs with ileojejunal transposition in which the distal ileum is exposed to undigested nutrients. Nine adult mongrel dogs were equipped with strain gauge force transducers placed on the gastric body, antrum, duodenum, and proximal jejunum. Measurements of gastrointestinal motility, gastric emptying, and plasma levels of total glucagon—like immunoreactivity, immunoreactive glucagon, and peptide YY were obtained both before and after either ileojejunal transposition (5 dogs) or sham operation (4 dogs). Postprandial contractions in the gastric antrum and gastric emptying were significantly inhibited after ileojejunal transposition. The inhibitory effect of ileojejunal transposition on antral motor activity was found to correlate with the rise in plasma total glucagon-like immunoreactivity and peptide YY concentrations. However, plasma glucagon levels were unaffected by ileojejunal transposition. These results suggest that hypersecretion of enteroglucagon and peptide YY induced by ileojejunal transposition inhibits postprandial gastric motor function.

An insulin-dependent hypoglycaemia induced by electroacupuncture at the Zhongwan (CV12) acupoint in diabetic rats.

Acupuncture at the Zhongwan acupoint has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine to relieve symptoms of diabetes mellitus. Our study investigated the effect on plasma glucose of electroacupuncture applied at the Zhongwan acupoint in rat diabetic models. Plasma concentrations of insulin, glucagon and beta-endorphin- were also determined using radioimmunoassay. A decrease in plasma glucose was observed in rats after electroacupuncture (15 Hz, 10 mA) for 30 min at the Zhongwan acupoint. This was observed in normal rats and rat models with Type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus. No significant effect on plasma glucose was observed in rat models with Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus: neither the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats nor the genetic (BB/W) rats. Further, the hypoglycaemic action of electroacupuncture stimulation disappeared in rats with insulin-resistance induced by an injection of human long-acting insulin repeated daily to cause the loss of tolbutamide-induced hypoglycaemia. An insulin-related action can thus be hypothesised. This hypothesis is supported by an increase in plasma insulin-like immunoreactivity after electroacupuncture stimulation in normal rats. Participation of glucagon was ruled out because there was no change in plasma glucagon-like immunoreactivity resulting from electroacupuncture stimulation. In addition to an increase in plasma beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity, the plasma glucose lowering action of electroacupuncture stimulation at Zhongwan acupoint was abolished by naloxone in a sufficient dose to block opioid receptors. Thus we suggest that electroacupuncture stimulation at the Zhongwan acupoint induces secretion of endogenous beta-endorphin which reduces plasma glucose concentration in an insulin-dependent manner.

Identification of amidated forms of GLP-1 in rat tissues using a highly sensitive radioimmunoassay

The development of a sensitive radioimmunoassay (RIA) for C-terminally amidated forms of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is described. Rabbits immunized with GLP-1(7–36)amide conjugated to bovine serum albumin with glutaraldehyde produced antisera containing high-affinity antibodies directed against an epitope that included the free amidated C-terminus of the peptide. These antisera could be used in a sensitive RIA (detection limit 0.1 fmol/tube) that measured GLP-1(7–36)amide and GLP-1(1–36)amide equally. Total concentrations of amidated GLP-1 immunoreactivity in extracts of rat hypothalamus, pancreas and intestine were determined by RIA, and resolved into GLP-1(7–36)amide, GLP-1(1–36)amide and unidentified cross-reacting substances by HPLC. Whereas only GLP-1(7–36)amide could be identified in the hypothalamus, in amounts that represented 55–94% of total glucagon-like immunoreactivity (GLI), the pancreas produced chiefly GLP-1(1–36)amide, representing 0.8–3.4% of total GLI, and only trace or undetectable amounts of GLP-1(7–36)amide (0–0.36% of total GLI). This argues against any role of intrapancreatic GLP-1(7–36)amide in the secretion of insulin. In the terminal ileum total amidated GLP-1 immunoreactivity represented 27–73% of total GLI, and in five of six specimens only GLP-1(7–36)amide could be identified on HPLC, in amounts representing 13–17% of total GLI. Only one specimen of terminal ileum contained HPLC-identified GLP-1(1–36)amide (13% of total GLI) in addition to GLP-1(7–36)amide (31% of total GLI). Acid–ethanol extraction of peptide-free rat plasma with added GLP-1(7–36)amide gave recoveries of 91±SEM 2% in the range 20–200 pmol/l. Basal plasma amidated GLP-1 in six unanaesthetized rats was 4.1±1.1 pmol/l and rose to a maximum of 15.4±3.0 pmol/l 10 min after intragastric glucose 1 g/kg, illustrating the modest level of plasma responses of amidated forms of GLP-1.

Quantitative anatomy, synaptic connectivity and physiology of amacrine cells with glucagon-like immunoreactivity in the turtle retina.

Although a wide variety of neuropeptides have been localized in vertebrate retinas, many questions remain about the function of these peptides and the amacrine cells that contain them. This is because many of these peptidergic amacrine cells have been studied using only immunocylochemical techniques. To address this limitation, the present study used a combination of quantitative anatomy, biochemistry and electrophysiology to examine amacrine cells in the turtle retina that contain the neuropeptide glucagon. In the turtle retina, there is a small population of 2500 glucagonergic amacrine cells, which probably represents < 1% of the total number of amacrine cells. Circular distribution statistics indicated that many of these tristratified amacrine cells had asymmetric dendritic arborizations that were radially oriented toward the retinal periphery. The cells were found to have similar dendritic coverage factors, to be distributed in a non-random arrangement in all regions of the retina, and to peak in density in the visual streak region. Electron microscopic studies indicated that glucagonergic amacrine cells made synaptic contacts primarily with other amacrine cells, and small numbers of bipolar cells. The synaptic inputs and outputs were balanced in the inner strata of the inner plexiform layer, and were biased toward synaptic outputs in the outer strata of the inner plexiform layer. These contacts involved small unlabelled synaptic vesicles, and not the large labelled dense core vesicles also found in these neurons. The biochemical studies indicated that glucagon could be released from the retina in a calcium dependent manner by high potassium stimulation. The electrophysiology found no color opponency, and the glucagonergic amacrine cells gave sustained hyperpolarizing responses to small stimulation spots and had antagonistic surrounds. The results of these studies suggest that there are significant regional specializations of glucagonergic amacrine cells, and that they may provide OFF-modulation in interactions between the ON-and OFF-centre visual pathways in the turtle retina.

Stereospecific effects of fatty acids on proglucagon-derived peptide secretion in fetal rat intestinal cultures.

The ingestion of fats is a potent stimulus for the secretion of the proglucagon-derived peptides (PGDPs), including the insulinotropic peptide glucagon-like peptide-1 from the intestinal L cell. The aim of the study was to characterize the structural requirements for fatty acid-induced secretion of the PGDPs and investigate the cellular mechanisms through which fatty acids mediate PGDP secretion. Fetal rat intestinal cell cultures were incubated with 10-150 microM fatty acids that differed in chain length (14-18 carbons) and degree of unsaturation (0-2). Inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC) and fatty acid esterification and oxidation were also incubated with the cells in the presence of stimulatory fatty acids. The cultures were assayed for glucagon-like immunoreactivity and glucagon-like peptide-1-(7-36)NH2 secretion. Monounsaturated fatty acids of chain length greater than 14 carbons stimulated PGDP secretion by 1.8 to 3.4-fold in a dose-dependent fashion (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001). Enhanced PGDP secretion was lost upon full saturation of the stimulatory fatty acids. Furthermore, although blockade of fatty acid esterification with a carboxyl methyl ester group prevented PGDP secretion, inhibition of fatty acid oxidation with methyl palmoxirate did not prevent PGDP secretion. Finally, the use of various inhibitors of PKC (staurosporine, H7, 24-h down-regulation) also did not alter fatty acid-induced PGDP secretion. In conclusion, monounsaturated long-chain fatty acids possessing a free carboxyl group stimulate intestinal PGDP secretion. Neither fatty acid oxidation nor classical isoforms of PKC appear to be directly involved in this response. Therefore, the structure of the fatty acid plays a central role in inducing intestinal PGDP secretion. These findings suggest that fat composition may significantly affect the magnitude of the GLP-1 response to ingested nutrients.

Stereospecific effects of fatty acids on proglucagon-derived peptide secretion in fetal rat intestinal cultures

The ingestion of fats is a potent stimulus for the secretion of the proglucagon-derived peptides (PGDPs), including the insulinotropic peptide glucagon-like peptide-1 from the intestinal L cell. The aim of the study was to characterize the structural requirements for fatty acid-induced secretion of the PGDPs and investigate the cellular mechanisms through which fatty acids mediate PGDP secretion. Fetal rat intestinal cell cultures were incubated with 10-150 microM fatty acids that differed in chain length (14-18 carbons) and degree of unsaturation (0-2). Inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC) and fatty acid esterification and oxidation were also incubated with the cells in the presence of stimulatory fatty acids. The cultures were assayed for glucagon-like immunoreactivity and glucagon-like peptide-1-(7-36)NH2 secretion. Monounsaturated fatty acids of chain length greater than 14 carbons stimulated PGDP secretion by 1.8 to 3.4-fold in a dose-dependent fashion (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001). Enhanced PGDP secretion was lost upon full saturation of the stimulatory fatty acids. Furthermore, although blockade of fatty acid esterification with a carboxyl methyl ester group prevented PGDP secretion, inhibition of fatty acid oxidation with methyl palmoxirate did not prevent PGDP secretion. Finally, the use of various inhibitors of PKC (staurosporine, H7, 24-h down-regulation) also did not alter fatty acid-induced PGDP secretion. In conclusion, monounsaturated long-chain fatty acids possessing a free carboxyl group stimulate intestinal PGDP secretion. Neither fatty acid oxidation nor classical isoforms of PKC appear to be directly involved in this response. Therefore, the structure of the fatty acid plays a central role in inducing intestinal PGDP secretion. These findings suggest that fat composition may significantly affect the magnitude of the GLP-1 response to ingested nutrients.

Synthesis and secretion of glucagon-like peptide-1 by fetal rat intestinal cells in culture

Secretion of the intestinal proglucagon-derived peptides (PGDPs) including the incretin glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is regulated, at least in part, by the duodenal hormone glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) through a protein kinase (PK) A-dependent pathway. It has been demonstrated that the activation of PKA increases the synthesis of some intestinal PGDPs, particularly the glucagon-like immunoreactive (GLI) peptides glicentin and oxyntomodulin. However, the effects of GIP on GLI and GLP-1 synthesis are not known. Fetal rat intestinal cells in culture were therefore treated for up to 24 h with 5MM: dbcAMP or 10(-6) M: GIP and the changes in glicentin, oxyntomodulin, GLP-1(x-37) and GLP-1(x-36NH2) secretion and synthesis were examined by RIA and HPLC. Both dbcAMP and GIP increased the acute (2 h; to 224±21 and 256±20% of controls, respectively,P<0.001) and chronic (24 h; to 230±22 and 130±6% of controls, respectively,P<0.001) secretion of intestinal PGDPs. In contrast, the total culture content of PGDPs was increased only after 24 h of incubation (to 156±15 and 125±7% of controls for dbcAMP and GIP, respectively,P<0.01). HPLC analysis confirmed that the intestinal cultures produced the GLI peptides glicentin and oxyntomodulin, as well as the biologically active forms of GLP-1, GLP-7(7-37) and GLP-1(7-36NH2). The relative proportion of these peptides was not altered by treatment with dbcAMP or GIP. Thus, in addition to its effects on GLP-1 release from the rat intestine, GIP appears to be an important regulator of the synthesis of this insulinotropic peptide.

The occurrence of acidic fibroblast growth factor-like immunoreactivity in subpopulations of endocrine cells in the pancreas and intestine of the rat.

A study of the immunocytochemical localization of acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) in the rat digestive system using a polyclonal anti-aFGF antiserum revealed immunoreactive cells in the periphery of the islets of Langerhans and in the mucosal epithelia of the intestine, from the jejunum through the colon. In the pancreatic islet, light microscopic immunostaining of consecutive sections with anti-aFGF and anti-glucagon antisera as well as pre-embedding immuno-electron microscopy demonstrated that a FGF-like immunoreactivity belongs to the A cell. In the intestinal epithelium, the aFGF-immunoreactive cell was simultaneously reactive to anti-glucagon antiserum and was ultrastructurally identified as the L-cell, which is known to produce glucagon-like immunoreactants derived from proglucagon. Post-embedding immuno-electron microscopy further revealed that the immunoreactivity is localized in the secretory granules of A- and L-cells. These results suggest that an aFGF-like immunoreactant occurs in the populations of gastro-entero-pancreatic endocrine cells that express proglucagon.

Ontogeny of some endocrine cells of the digestive tract in sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax): An immunocytochemical study

Serotonin- and ten peptide-immunoreactive (IR) cell types were identified in the digestive tract of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) larvae of four morphofunctional phases ranging in age from hatching to 61 days. The sequence of appearance and location of endocrine cells during ontogenetic development of the larvae was determined. The differentiation of endocrine cells followed a distal-proximal gradient in the gut which paralleled the morphofunctional differentiation. Serotonin-IR cells were identified in the last portion of the digestive tract from phase I onwards and in the gastric region from phase III, before these regions were morphofunctionally differentiated; met-enkephalin-IR cells were identified from phase II onwards in both the differentiated rectum and the undifferentiated intestine; cholecystokinin (CCK)- and synthetic human gastrin-34-IR cells were located only in the intestine and first found in the undifferentiated intestine of phase II; human gastrin-17-, peptide YY (PYY)- and neuropeptide Y (NPY)-IR cells appeared in the intestine from phase II and in stomach in phase IV, when it showed gastric glands; pancreatic polypeptide (PP)- and glucagon-IR cells were observed in both intestine and stomach, but insulin- and somatostatin-IR cells only in stomach, from phase III, during which the intestine but not the stomach was differentiated. PP- and PYY-, PP- and glucagon-, and PYY- and glucagon-like immunoreactivities coexisted from their first appearance in some cells of the gut.

Co-localization of peptides in the Brockmann bodies of the cod (Gadus morhua) and the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Endocrine cells exhibiting immunoreactivity to FMRFamide-like, LPLRFamide-like, neuropeptide Y(NPY)-like and peptide YY(PYY)-like peptides were found in the periphery of the Brockmann bodies of the cod, Gadus morhua, and rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. No immunoreactivity or very weak labelling was found with antisera to pancreatic polypeptide (PP). Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-like immunoreactivity was found in nerve fibres, whereas labelling with VIP antiserum in endocrine cells disappeared after preincubation with nonimmune serum. There were always more immunoreactive cells in the rainbow trout than in the cod. No immunoreactivity could be seen with antisera to gastrin/cholecystokinin (CCK) or enkephalin. Double-labelling studies were performed to study the colocalization of the peptides in peripheral endocrine cells. Cells immunoreactive to NPY were also labelled with antisera to FMRFamide, LPLRFamide and PYY. The co-localization pattern of NPY varied; in some Brockmann bodies, a population of the immunoreactive cells showed co-localization and others contained NPY-like immunoreactivity only, whereas in other Brockmann bodies, all NPY-labelled cells also contained FMRFamide-like, LPLRFamide-like and PYY-like immunoreactivity. Cells immunoreactive to PYY similarly contained FMRFamide-like, LPLRFamide-like and NPY-like immunoreactivity, comparable to the patterns observed with NPY. Glucagon-like immunoreactivity was found at the periphery of the Brockmann bodies. A subpopulation of the glucagon-containing cells contained NPY-like immunoreactivity. PYY-like immunoreactivity was also found co-localized with glucagon-like immunoreactivity, as were FMRFamide-like and LPLRFamide-like immunoreactivity. Therefore, either NPY-like and PYY-like immunoreactivity together with FMRFamide-like and LPLRFamide-like immunoreactivity occur in the same endocrine cells of the Brockmann body of the cod and rainbow trout, or a hybrid NPY/PYY-like peptide recognized by both NPY and PYY antisera is present in the Brockmann body.