Synergistic insulinotropic action of D-glucose pentaacetate and GLP-1 in rats

In normal rats, alpha-D-glucose pentaacetate, first injected intravenously over 30 s in an amount of 8.5 nmol/g body wt and then infused for 12 min at a rate of 1.7 nmol/min/g, increased within 150 s the plasma insulin concentration and augmented the secretory response to GLP-1 (5 pmol/g) injected over 30 s 2 min after the start of the alpha-D-glucose pentaacetate infusion. In adult rats which had been injected with streptozotocin during the neonatal period, alpha-D-glucose pentaacetate failed to cause a sizeable increase in plasma insulin concentration, but nevertheless again enhanced the insulinotropic action of GLP-1. Hence, it is proposed that selected monosaccharide esters could be used to optimize the islet B-cell response to GLP-1 in non-insulin-dependent diabetes. Med Sci Res 27:853-856 (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.