Does nitric oxide play a role in stimulus-secretion and/or synthesis-secretion coupling of insulin?

By using the perfused rat pancreas model and the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, nitro-arginine methyl ester (NAME), we examined the hypothesis that first-phase potentiation or second-phase inhibition of insulin release due to the amino acid arginine (or both) are the result of its conversion to nitric oxide (NO). In the presence of 16.7 mM glucose, 20 mM arginine caused a first-phase potentiation of insulin release when compared with glucose controls, while inhibiting the second-phase insulin release. When 20 mM NAME was added in addition to 20 mM arginine and 16.7 mM glucose, the total insulin released during the first secretory phase was not significantly different from that of the glucose plus arginine group, suggesting that inhibition of NO production does not affect arginine-potentiated first-phase insulin release. Similarly, the presence of NAME failed to reverse the arginine inhibition of second-phase insulin release. The presence of NAME resulted in a more pronounced inhibition of insulin secretion. Correspondingly, compared with the glucose-only controls, the presence of 20 mM NAME plus 16.7 mM glucose resulted in a significant decrease in insulin release during the second phase, whereas the presence of NAME did not affect first-phase glucose-stimulated insulin release. Thus we conclude that the conversion of arginine to nitric oxide does not play a significant role in glucose-stimulated first-phase potentiation or second-phase inhibition of insulin release due to arginine.

Differential insulin secretory responses to cationic and branched-chain amino acids.

The long-term effects on the dynamics of glucose-stimulated insulin release by the cationic amino acids arginine and lysine and the branched-chain amino acid leucine were examined. The rat pancreas perfusion model was utilized and particular emphasis was placed on modulation of the glucose-stimulated synthesis-secretion coupling second phase. In the presence of 16.7 mM glucose, 20 mM arginine, lysine, and leucine each potentiated first-phase insulin release by approximately 50%, compared to glucose-only controls. Conversely, in the presence of 16.7 mM glucose, 20 mM arginine resulted in a 50% inhibition of second-phase (min 30-120) insulin release compared to glucose-only controls. Similarly, 20 mM lysine in the presence of 16.7 mM glucose also caused a comparable inhibition of second-phase insulin release. Paradoxically, 20 mM leucine in the presence of glucose had no significant inhibitory effect on second-phase glucose-stimulated insulin release. The data suggest that these amino acids mediate their effects on first- and second-phase insulin release via different mechanisms of action, which may reflect differences and similarities in charge and/or metabolic fates within the beta cell. The data do not support the hypothesis that cationic charge is solely involved in the stimulus-secretion component, since all three amino acids caused comparable potentiation of first-phase insulin release. Conversely, the inhibitory component of the second secretory phase may be mediated via a common charge-related metabolic pathway in the synthesis-secretion coupling mechanism, since only the cationic amino acids inhibit this component, whereas leucine has no such effect.

Altered cellular heterogeneity as a possible mechanism for the maintenance of organ function in senescent animals.

We tested the hypothesis that an alteration in the functional heterogeneity of cell populations (i.e., changes occurring in sensitivity and responsiveness to external stimuli among individual cells) may be a mechanism by which some organs are able to resist age-related decrements in function. To this end, changes in cytoplasmic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) following glucose stimulation of individual pancreatic beta cells isolated from male F344 rats of ages 6, 12, and 26 mo were used as a model for evaluating responsiveness and sensitivity. Changes in [Ca2+]i of individual beta cells were monitored using fura-2 microspectrofluorimetry. No differences were observed in [Ca2+]i or in insulin secretion per beta cell among the age groups at any of the glucose concentrations. However, the percentage of beta cells that were responsive to a stimulatory glucose concentration (> 5.5 mM) was significantly greater in islets from the 26-mo-old rats (76%) as compared to the 6- and 12-mo-old animals (63% and 65%, respectively). Of the responsive beta cells, a significantly greater percentage of those from the 26-mo-old rats (72%) responded at the lowest stimulatory glucose concentration (7.5 mM) as compared to the 6- and 12-mo-old animals (58% and 60%, respectively). These data suggest that the maintenance of organ function in older rats at a level comparable to that of younger animals may be accomplished, in part, by an increase in the percentage of cells that are responsive to stimuli and/or by an increase in the sensitivity of the responsive cells.

Predominately glucocorticoid agonist actions of RU-486 in young specific-pathogen-free Zucker rats.

Previous studies have demonstrated antiglucocorticoid actions for the progesterone receptor antagonist RU-486. In one study, daily administration of this drug for 2 wk decreased food intake (FI) and body weight gain (delta BW) in obese, but not lean, conventionally housed 5-wk-old female Zucker rats. We recently found that 2-wk administration of RU-486 attenuated delta BW in lean but not obese 12-wk-old male Zucker rats without affecting FI. To examine the actions of RU-486 and its effects on FI and delta BW in young (5 wk old) specific-pathogen-free (SPF) male and female Zucker rats, RU-486 was administered at 30 mg.kg-1.day-1 subcutaneously for 14 days. RU-486 did not affect FI in obese or lean male or female rats. RU-486 increased adrenal weight (P < 0.05) overall and in lean female rats and modestly decreased inguinal fat weight overall and in obese female rats (P < 0.01), suggesting some antiglucocorticoid activity in these animals. However, RU-486 also decreased thymus weight by 18-31% (P < 0.0001), increased plasma glucose by 10-16 mg/dl (P < 0.002), and increased plasma insulin by 47% in obese male rats (P < 0.028), demonstrating glucocorticoid agonist actions for the drug. Plasma corticosterone (B) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) were elevated in vehicle-treated obese female and male rats by 150-360% (P < 0.0025) and 32-38% (P < 0.05), respectively, compared with lean rats. RU-486 treatment lowered the elevated plasma B and ACTH levels in obese female and male rats (both P < 0.02 vs. vehicle), a glucocorticoid agonist effect. We conclude that in young SPF Zucker rats 1) RU-486 administration does not alter FI or delta BW, 2) RU-486 has predominately glucocorticoid agonist actions in several tissues, 3) obese animals have increased hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity (plasma B and ACTH), and 4) RU-486 administration suppresses the HPA axis in obese rats.

Glucagon secretory response to hypoglycaemia, adrenaline and carbachol in streptozotocin-diabetic rats.

Glucagon response to insulin-induced hypoglycaemia is impared in diabetes, but the mechanism is not established. Pancreatic A cell hyporesponsiveness to adrenergic or cholinergic stimulation could contribute to the impairment. We therefore compared the plasma glucagon responses to intravenous infusion of adrenaline (1200 ng kg(-1) min(-1) for 20 min) or to intravenous injection of the cholinergic agonist carbachol (50 micrograms kg(-1)) in chloral hydrate-anaesthetized rats made diabetic with the use of streptozotocin (80 mg kg(-1) subcutaneously) 6 weeks before and in anaesthetized control rats. Insulin was infused intravenously to reduce plasma glucose levels to below 1.8 mmol L(-1). As expected, the plasma glucagon response was reduced by approximately 45% in streptozotocin-diabetic rats compared with controls (P = 0.045). During adrenaline infusion, plasma glucagon levels increased by 277 +/- 92 pg mL(-1) in controls (P = 0.009) and by 570 +/- 137 pg mL(-1) in the diabetic rats (P = 0.002). Thus, the plasma glucagon response to adrenaline was approximately doubled in the diabetic rats (P = 0.045). Following carbachol injection, plasma glucagon levels were raised by 1211 +/- 208 pg mL(-1) (P < 0.001) in controls but only by 555 +/- 242 pg mL(-1) in the diabetic rats (P = 0.049). Thus, the plasma glucagon response to carbachol was impared by approximately 58% in the diabetic rats (P = 0.028). We conclude that carbachol-stimulated glucagon secretion is impared concomitantly with the impared glucagon response to hypoglycaemia in streptozotocin-diabetic rats, whereas adrenaline-induced glucagon secretion is exaggerated. We suggest that a reduced pancreatic A cell responsiveness to cholinergic stimulation could contribute to the impairment of the glucagon response to insulin-induced hypoglycaemia in diabetes.

Redundant parasympathetic and sympathoadrenal mediation of increased glucagon secretion during insulin-induced hypoglycemia in conscious rats.

Both the parasympathetic and sympathoadrenal inputs to the pancreas can stimulate glucagon release and are activated during hypoglycemia. However, blockade of only one branch of the autonomic nervous system may not reduce hypoglycemia-induced glucagon secretion, because the unblocked neural input is sufficient to mediate the glucagon response, ie, the neural inputs are redundant. Therefore, to determine if parasympathetic and sympathoadrenal activation redundantly mediate increased glucagon secretion during hypoglycemia, insulin was administered to conscious rats pretreated with a muscarinic antagonist (methylatropine, n = 7), combined alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptor blockade (tolazoline + propranolol, n = 5) or adrenergic blockade + methylatropine (n = 7). Insulin administration produced similar hypoglycemia in control and antagonist-treated rats (25 to 32 mg/dL). In control rats (n = 9), plasma immunoreactive glucagon (IRG) increased from a baseline level of 125 +/- 11 to 1,102 +/- 102 pg/mL during hypoglycemia (delta IRG = +977 +/- 98 pg/mL, P < .0005). The plasma IRG response was not significantly altered either by methylatropine (delta IRG = +677 +/- 141 pg/mL) or by adrenergic blockade (delta IRG = +1,374 +/- 314 pg/mL). However, the IRG response to hypoglycemia was reduced to 25% of the control value by the combination of adrenergic blockade + methylatropine (delta IRG = +250 +/- 83 pg/mL, P < .01 v control rats). These results suggest that the plasma glucagon response to hypoglycemia in conscious rats is predominantly the result of autonomic neural activation, and is redundantly mediated by the parasympathetic and sympathoadrenal divisions of the autonomic nervous system.

Selective muscarinic sensitivity in perfused pancreata of obese Zucker rats.

Insulin secretion was evaluated in response to the muscarinic agonist, bethanechol, and to the antagonist, atropine, in three-month-old female homozygous lean (Fa/Fa) and obese (fa/fa) Zucker rats, using an in vitro pancreas perfusion. Three doses of bethanechol were used (0.5, 5 or 50 microM). Bethanechol at 50 microM concentration had a significant potentiating effect on glucose-induced insulin secretion in pancreata from both lean and obese rats. There was no effect of atropine (25 microM) on insulin secretion in pancreata from either lean or obese rats. In another study, the perfusate used contained glucose at 75, 125 or 200 mg/dl for the entire 60 min period. Perfusate, with or without bethanechol (50 microM), was infused from 21-40 min, using a side-arm syringe. In general, bethanechol significantly increased insulin secretory rates in both lean and obese rats. Since the pancreas of obese rats secretes more insulin to the same glucose concentration than the pancreas of lean rats, we compared changes in insulin release due to bethanechol in obese and lean rats having comparable basal insulin secretory rates during the 11-20 min period. To produce comparable insulin secretion, glucose levels in the perfusate were kept lower in the obese group (75 mg/dl). In the comparably secreting lean group, a glucose level of 200 mg/dl was required. We also compared changes in insulin secretory rate due to bethanechol stimulation between groups with comparable insulin secretory rates during the 21-40 min period in the control groups, i.e. 75 mg/dl glucose in the obese group vs. 125 mg/dl glucose in the lean group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Stimulus-secretion coupling and insulin secretion in aging: evaluation of glucose oxidation and ATP-sensitive potassium channel responsiveness.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate possible age-related alterations in the glucose-stimulus/insulin-secretion coupling mechanism of islets of Langerhans. To this end, the interaction among insulin secretion, glucose oxidation, and ATP-sensitive potassium (K ATP) channel responsiveness was determined in islets of Langerhans isolated from 6-, 12-, and 26-month-old male Fischer 344 (F344) rats. Groups of 20 islets were incubated for 40 min at 37 degrees C in a buffer containing: (1) either 1.7 or 11.1 mM glucose; (2) 1.2 microM glyburide and either 1.7 or 11.1 mM glucose; (3) 5 microM epinephrine and 11.1 mM glucose; or (4) 1.2 microM glyburide, 5 microM epinephrine, and either 1.7 or 11.1 mM glucose. Insulin release of islets incubated in the presence of glyburide and 1.7 or 11.1 mM glucose was greater than that of islets incubated in glucose alone, while glucose oxidation did not increase. Epinephrine inhibited insulin release and glucose oxidation at 11.1 mM glucose and abolished glyburide-enhanced insulin release at 11.1 mM glucose. No effect of age was observed in any of the treatment categories. These results indicate that if age-related alterations are occurring in glucose-stimulus/insulin-secretion coupling, then such alterations are not associated with changes in K ATP channel-mediated responsiveness.

Tonic sympathetic nervous system inhibition of insulin secretion is diminished in obese Zucker rats.

It has long been known that the central nervous system (CNS) directly affects pancreatic insulin release. This study was undertaken to determine the effect of the CNS on pancreatic insulin release in three-month-old female lean (Fa/Fa) and hyperinsulinemic obese (fa/fa) Zucker rats. Chloral hydrate (400 mg/kg) was used as the anesthetic agent. The in situ brain-pancreas perfusion model with intact pancreatic innervation was used in this investigation. The study measured insulin secretion in response to a 60-minute glucose stimulus (200 mg/dl). CNS-intact and CNS-functionally ablated obese and lean rats were used. During the 60-minute perfusion period significantly more insulin was released by pancreata from obese rats compared to those from lean rats. In lean rats, about twice as much insulin was released by pancreata from CNS-ablated rats than from CNS-intact rats (P < 0.05), demonstrating a CNS tonic inhibition of insulin secretion. In obese rats, there was no significant difference in insulin released by the pancreata of the CNS-intact and CNS-ablated rats. To determine if there was a masking effect of predominant PNS activity over the SNS in the CNS-intact obese rats, bilateral vagotomy was performed in a group of otherwise CNS-intact obese rats prior to the onset of perfusion. Tonic inhibition was still not observed in the CNS-vagotomized obese rats. In conclusion, hypersecretion of insulin in obese rats is partially due to diminished tonic sympathetic nervous system inhibition of insulin release. These results provide additional evidence regarding abnormal CNS control of insulin secretion in obese Zucker rats.

Autonomic control of pancreatic polypeptide and glucagon secretion during neuroglucopenia and hypoglycemia in mice.

Neural control of pancreatic polypeptide (PP) release has not been previously investigated in the mouse. In addition, it is not known to what extent increased glucagon secretion during hypoglycemia in mice is neurally mediated vs. an effect of hypoglycemia to directly stimulate glucagon secretion at the level of the islet. Feeding or the cholinergic agonist carbachol increased plasma PP levels in conscious mice (+74 +/- 18 pg/ml vs. fasted mice and +141 +/- 17 pg/ml vs. control, respectively). Neuroglucopenia induced by 2-deoxy-D-glucose or insulin-induced hypoglycemia also increased plasma PP (+79 +/- 18 and +89 +/- 11 pg/ml vs. control, respectively). These increases were abolished by hexamethonium and reduced by atropine methylnitrate (atropine). Hypoglycemia-induced hyperglucagonemia (+1,243 +/- 275 pg/ml) was reduced to 31 +/- 7% of control by atropine (+382 +/- 85 pg/ml), to 48 +/- 9% of control by combined adrenergic blockade (+601 +/- 112 pg/ml), and nearly abolished by atropine plus combined blockade (+143 +/- 41 pg/ml; 11 +/- 3% of control) or hexamethonium (+151 +/- 38 pg/ml; 12 +/- 3% of control). We conclude the following in the mouse. 1) Feeding or cholinergic agonists increase plasma PP. 2) During neuroglucopenia or hypoglycemia, plasma PP is increased via nicotinic and muscarinic mechanisms. 3) The glucagon response to hypoglycemia is predominantly the result of autonomic activation and is mediated by both muscarinic and adrenergic mechanisms.

Synthesis-secretion coupling of insulin: effect of pregnancy and lactation.

Synthesis-secretion coupling of insulin was determined using perfused pancreata taken from either control, pregnant, or lactating female Sprague-Dawley rats. The pancreata were stimulated for 3 h with one of the two glucose concentrations used: either 150 or 300 mg/dl. In the case of pregnancy, the pancreata exhibited a twofold hypersecretory activity in response to the physiological glucose level of 150 mg/dl. Net insulinogenesis did not occur in response to the normoglycemic glucose concentration, and, as with the controls, there was an overall depletion of insulin stores. There was no insulin hypersecretion at the hyperglycemic level of 300 mg/dl, but net insulinogenesis did occur; however, it matched that of the controls. Therefore, the hypersecretion of insulin ascribed to pregnancy appears to be a function of the secretory process only, to be most demonstrable under normoglycemic conditions, and not to be due to enhanced synthesis-secretion coupling. In the case of pancreata from lactating rats, just the converse was observed. Compared with controls, there was no substantial difference in insulin secretion by pancreata from lactating rats at either glucose level or of insulinogenesis under normoglycemia conditions. However, when glucose was at a hyperglycemic load in the lactating group, not only was there no net insulinogenesis, but this condition actually resulted in a depletion of intracellular insulin stores (as opposed to both the control and the pregnant groups). This suggests that the hypoinsulinemia noted during lactation may be related to a reduced capacity of those beta-cells to synthesize insulin the face of prolonged hyperglycemic stimulation.

Dietary sucrose enhances insulin secretion of aging Fischer 344 rats.

Male Fischer 344 rats, ages 6, 12 and 26 mo, were fed a diet containing either sucrose or cornstarch (66% by weight) for 4 mo. The effects of age and dietary sucrose on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion were evaluated in whole perfused pancreases and isolated islets of Langerhans, and by intra-arterial glucose administration. In addition, glucose responsiveness of beta-cells was measured by following the rate of glucose oxidation in isolated islets. There was no significant effect of age on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion of whole perfused pancreases and islets of Langerhans. There was, however, a significant main effect of sucrose feeding on insulin secretion. That is, whole perfused pancreases and islets of Langerhans isolated from rats fed sucrose vs. starch diets secreted more insulin in response to glucose. This effect was most pronounced in the 26-mo-old rats. In general, islet glucose oxidation rates, and responses to the in vivo glucose, did not differ among the groups. We conclude that alterations in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion with age more closely reflect changes in diet rather than aging per se.

Norepinephrine sensitivity of the endocrine pancreas in aging F344 rats.

The effect of norepinephrine (NE) infusion on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion was evaluated in whole perfused pancreases isolated from 6-, 12-, and 26-month-old male Fischer 344 (F344) rats. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion was significantly inhibited by NE in all age groups. There was no significant effect of aging on the sensitivity or magnitude of inhibition at any of the concentrations of NE. In contrast, vascular pressure attained during NE infusion was significantly less in the 26-month-old rats compared to 6- and 12-month-old animals. These results suggest that the adrenoceptor neuroeffector mechanism of the smooth muscle declines at a faster age-related rate than does the beta-cell's adrenoceptor mechanism.

Age and gender effects on insulin secretion and glucose sensitivity of the endocrine pancreas.

Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion was evaluated in whole perfused pancreases and islets of Langerhans (90 to 110 microns diam) isolated from female and male Fischer 344 (F344) rats aged 6, 12, and 26 mo. Total glucose-stimulated (11.1 mmol/l) insulin release of whole perfused pancreases from male rats did not differ among age groups. In contrast, insulin secretion of 26-mo-old female rats was significantly greater than 6- and 12-mo-old female rats. Insulin secretion by islets of Langerhans incubated in glucose concentrations of 11.1, 16.7, and 22.2 mmol/l was greater in male rats compared with age-matched female animals at all three ages, and was greater in 6-vs. 26-mo-old male rats. Insulin secretion of female rats revealed some significant differences among the age groups, although no clear pattern was evident. Sensitivity of the islets to glucose was estimated from the rate of glucose oxidation. At incubation medium glucose concentrations of 11.1 mmol/l or higher, no effect of gender was observed, although the glucose oxidation rate of islets from male 26-mo-old rats was greater than that of islets from gender-matched 6-mo-old rats. These data indicate that in both the whole perfused pancreas and isolated islets of Langerhans, glucose-stimulated insulin secretion is not significantly altered with age or gender in the F344 rat. However, it appears that maintenance of insulin secretory capacity by aging male rats is achieved by enhancement of beta-cell sensitivity to glucose.

Autonomic nervous system mediation of the pancreatic polypeptide response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia in conscious rats.

To investigate the neural regulation of pancreatic polypeptide (PP) secretion during hypoglycemia in the rat, insulin was administered to chronically cannulated rats, and plasma PP responses were compared between saline-treated animals and animals pretreated with a ganglionic blocking agent (hexamethonium), a muscarinic antagonist (atropine), combined alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptor blockade (propranolol + tolazoline), or combined adrenergic blockade + atropine. PP was measured using a new RIA which selectively detects PP in rat plasma. In control rats (n = 10), plasma PP increased from a baseline level of 30 +/- 3 pg/ml to 271 +/- 41 pg/ml during hypoglycemia (plasma glucose = 29 +/- 2 mg/dl) (delta PP = +241 +/- 42 pg/ml, P less than 0.0005), demonstrating that in rats, as in other species, insulin-induced hypoglycemia is a potent stimulus for PP release. PP only increased by 31 +/- 10 pg/ml during similar hypoglycemia in 7 hexamethonium-treated rats (P less than 0.01 vs. control animals). Thus, at least 90% of the PP response to hypoglycemia is neurally mediated. The plasma PP response to hypoglycemia was +85 +/- 24 pg/ml in atropine-treated rats (P 0.01 vs. control rats), suggesting that approximately 65% of the PP response is mediated via muscarinic acetylcholine receptors on the islet F cell. The PP response to hypoglycemia in rats with combined adrenergic blockade (delta = +168 +/- 32 pg/ml) was slightly, but not significantly smaller than that in control rats. The combination of combined blockade + atropine resulted in a PP response (delta = +26 +/- 7 pg/ml) to hypoglycemia that was similar to that in hexamethonium-treated rats (P less than 0.01 vs. control rats). These results suggest: 1) The PP response to hypoglycemia is predominantly the result of muscarinic, cholinergic activation. 2) There is a minor adrenergic contribution to the response. 3) The plasma PP response may be useful as an index of autonomic neural input to the islet during hypoglycemia.

Inhibition by cyclosporine of insulin secretion--a beta cell-specific alteration of islet tissue function.

We have reported the potent inhibitory effect of cyclosporine on glucose-induced insulin release in in vitro perfused pancreases. Suppression of both phases of release indicates inhibition of secretion and synthesis. Further studies were performed to examine the effect of high extracellular Ca2+ (4.875 mM). High Ca2+ failed to potentiate release in CsA-treated pancreases, thus we are focusing on the integrity of Ca(2+)-dependent signals in the beta cell. In this study, four groups of pancreases were perfused at 16.7 mM glucose: Control +/- somatostatin (SRIF) and CsA-treated +/- SRIF (60 nM). In control rats, the total 2-hr release decreased 40% with SRIF, from 42.7 +/- 5.5 to 25.5 +/- 3.9 micrograms/300 g body weight (P less than .05). In CsA-treated rats, release decreased 55% with SRIF, from 8.9 +/- 1.1 to 4.0 +/- 0.6 micrograms/300 g body weight. Further, at every time point of these CsA-treated rats, there was approximately 15% greater inhibition by SRIF than in controls. Pancreatic insulin contents were determined, indicating marked depletion of insulin stores in CsA-treated rats (190 +/- 9 vs. 76 +/- 5 micrograms/300 g body weight, P less than .01). Arginine-stimulated secretion of insulin and glucagon was also examined in control and CsA-treated pancreases. CsA exerted no effect on arginine-stimulated glucagon release, yet inhibited insulin approximately 50%. From these studies, we conclude that normal SRIF inhibitory mechanisms must be at least partially intact in CsA-treated pancreases during glucose-induced insulin release, and that CsA inhibition is specific for insulin release, as glucagon stores and arginine-stimulated glucagon release are unaffected by CsA.

Neural regulation of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in younger and older Fischer 344 rats.

Neural regulation of insulin secretion of in situ innervated perfused pancreases was evaluated in younger (5 months) and older (26 months) Fischer 344 rats. In one protocol, the central nervous system (CNS) was intact throughout the entire 120-min perfusion period. In the other protocol, the CNS was intact only through the first 20 min of the 120-min perfusion, whereupon the CNS was ablated via anoxia. In both protocols, a modified Krebs-Ringer buffer containing glucose at 200 mg/dl was perfused through the pancreas at a rate of 4.8 ml/min by using a constant flow perfusion pump. Insulin secretion (ng.min-1) of younger and older CNS-intact rats did not differ significantly. After the ablation of the neural regulation of the pancreas, glucose-stimulated insulin secretion of younger rats was significantly lower, relative to the average insulin secretion before ablation (i.e., min 1-20) of CNS-intact animals. This would suggest that the nature of neural control of insulin secretion in younger rats is potentiation. In contrast, insulin secretion of older CNS-ablated animals was similar, or generally increased, when the data were expressed either on an absolute or a relative basis to preablation values, respectively. Thus, these data suggest that the neural regulation of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in younger versus older rats is significantly different.