The autonomic nervous system regulates pancreatic beta-cell proliferation in adult male rats.

The autonomic nervous system regulates pancreatic beta-cell proliferation in adult male rats. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2019 Apr 23;: Authors: Moullé VS, Tremblay C, Castell AL, Vivot K, Ethier M, Fergusson G, Alquier T, Ghislain J, Poitout V Abstract The pancreatic beta-cell responds to changes in the nutrient environment to maintain glucose homeostasis by adapting its function and mass. Nutrients can act directly on the beta-cell and also indirectly through the brain via autonomic nerves innervating islets. Despite the importance of the brain-islet axis in insulin secretion, relatively little is known regarding its involvement in beta-cell proliferation. We previously demonstrated that prolonged infusions of nutrients in rats provoke a dramatic increase in beta-cell proliferation in part due to the direct action of nutrients. Here, we addressed the contribution of the autonomic nervous system. In isolated islets, muscarinic stimulation increased, whereas adrenergic stimulation decreased, glucose-induced beta-cell proliferation. Blocking alpha-adrenergic receptors reversed the effect of epinephrine on glucose + non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA)-induced beta-cell proliferation, whereas activation of beta-adrenergic receptors was without effect. Infusion of glucose + NEFA towards the brain stimulated beta-cell proliferation, and this effect was abrogated following coeliac vagotomy. The increase in beta-cell proliferation followi...
Source: American Journal of Physiology. Endocrinology and Metabolism - Category: Physiology Authors: Tags: Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab Source Type: research