ABSTRACT
Objective: To explore the effects of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on glucose metabolism and the endocrine function of pancreatic beta-cells. Methods: The NIT-1 cells were treated with different concentrations (5.0, 10.0, 20.0 and 40.0 mg/L) of 5-FU. The insulin concentration in the culture medium was determined by radioimmunoassay. Twenty Wistar rats were divided into 5-FU group (intraperitoneally administered with 5-FU at a daily dose of 20 mg/kg for 5 days) and the control group (intraperitoneally administered with normal saline). Glucose tolerance test was performed on d 2 and d 7 following 5-FU administration, and the plasma insulin concentration was determined by radioimmunoassay. Results: The high glucose (16.7 mmol/L)-induced release of insulin from NIT-1 cells was inhibited by 5.0 to 20.0 mg/L of 5-FU in a dose-dependent manner (P0.05). Postprandial plasma insulin level at 60 min following a glucose load on d 7 was significantly lower than that of the control group on d 2 (25.32 ± 6.07 vs 33.98 ± 4.94, P<0.05). The peak secretion time of plasma insulin was delayed to 120 min. Conclusion: Hyperglycemia following 5-FU treatment appears to be related to a relative deficiency in insulin secretion response to glucose stimulation. Copyright© 2011 by the Editorial Board of Tumor.