MECHANISM OF PROTECTION AFFORDED BY TESTOSTERONE TO THE PANCREATIC ISLET CELLS INJURED BY INTERLEUKIN-1? / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

Isolated pancreatic islet cells from neonatal rats were cultured in vitro. Insulin release was significantly inhibited by interleukin-1?. Addition of testosterone to the IL-, 1?-impaired pancreatic islets could increase insulin release, suggesting a protective effect of testosterone on pancreatic islet cells. Testosterone also significantly increased the insulin content in islet cells, and this effect could be blocked by actinomycin-D, indicating that testosterone promoted the synthesis of DNA and insulin may be one of its major protective mechanism.