Regulation of avian insulin secretion by isolated perfused chicken pancreas

Chicken insulin secretory responses to glucose, glucagon, tolbutamide, and lack of Mg2+ were measured using isolated perfused in situ chicken pancreata. Although elevating perfusate glucose concentration from 100 to 250 mg/100 ml failed to increase insulin release, 500 mg glucose/100 ml provoked a transient 5-min insulin response. Additionally, 700 mg glucose/100 ml resulted in both a transient response and subsequent elevation in secretory rate that continued throughout the following 50-min stimulatory period. Glucagon (500 microgram/ml) and omission of perfusate Mg2+ potentiated glucose-stimulated insulin output by 6 and 25%, respectively. A faster release of insulin (less than 1 min) occurred during tolbutamide infusion (0.13 mg/ml) than with either 500 or 700 mg glucose per 100 ml (2-3 min); however, secretory rates declined to near basal levels within 5 min. Mammalian-like insulin responses to glucose, glucagon, Mg2+ lack, and tolbutamide suggest similarities between avian and mammalian beta-cell insulin secretory mechanisms. Nevertheless, the relatively high chicken insulin release threshold and low insulin output to glucose indicate that chicken pancreata are relatively glucose insensitive.