Pancreatic alpha-cells from female mice undergo morphofunctional changes during compensatory adaptations of the endocrine pancreas to diet-induced obesity.

ABSTRACT: Obesity is frequently associated with insulin resistance. To compensate for this situation and maintain normoglycaemia, pancreatic beta-cells undergo several morphofunctional adaptations, which result in insulin hypersecretion and hyperinsulinaemia. However, no information exists about pancreatic alpha-cells during this compensatory stage of obesity. Here, we studied alpha-cells in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks. These animals exhibited hyperinsulinaemia and normoglycaemia compared with control animals in addition to hypoglucagonaemia. While the in vivo response of glucagon to hypoglycaemia was preserved in the obese mice, the suppression of glucagon secretion during hyperglycaemia was impaired. Additionally, in vitro glucagon release at low glucose levels and glucagon content

SUBMITTER: Merino B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4650619 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature