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Published on: November 5, 2016
Cholecystokinin octapeptide: a potential growth factor for pancreatic beta cells in diabetic rats
Emmanuelle Kuntz1, Michel Pinget, Pinget Damgé
1European Center for Study of Diabetes, Faculty of Medicine, Strasbourg, France.
Context:
Diabetes is associated with the reduction of beta cell mass and activity. Cholecystokinin (CCK) is known to induce growth of the exocrine pancreas and to stimulate insulin secretion.
Objective:
We investigated the possible role of CCK-octapeptide (CCK-8) in generating islet cell proliferation in type 1 and type 2 diabetic rats.
Methods:
Streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetic rats, streptozotocin/nicotinamide-induced type 2 diabetic rats and non-diabetic rats were subjected to CCK-8 (1, 2 and 4 microg/kg) or saline injections (for the control group), three times daily for 8 successive days.
Main Outcome Measures:
The islets of Langerhans were analyzed morphometrically; the beta-cell function was evaluated by an oral glucose tolerance test, and plasma basal glucose and insulin concentrations.
Results:
In type 1 diabetic rats, CCK-8 induced an increase in beta cell surface associated with a marked increase in the mitotic index; this effect appeared at a concentration of 1 microg/kg CCK-8 and was the highest at a concentration of 4 microg/kg CCK-8. In addition, pancreatic- and plasma-insulin concentrations increased while fasting blood glucose concentrations were reduced when compared to saline-treated rats but the glycemic response to an oral glucose challenge did not significantly improve. In type 2 diabetic rats and in non-diabetic rats, CCK-8 treatment did not significantly affect either the structure or the functional state of beta-cells.
Conclusions:
CCK-8 could improve blood glucose concentrations in type 1 diabetic rats correlated with an increase in beta cell mass probably potentiated by the chronic hyperglycemic state.
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