Diazepam: in vitro effects on glucagon and insulin release

Diazepam suppressed arginine-induced glucagon release from the isolated perfused rat pancreas in a dose-dependent manner, with an IC50 of approximately 65 microM. In contrast, insulin release was enhanced by 10-50 microM diazepam, but inhibited by higher concentrations of drug. Thus, 50 microM diazepam simultaneously suppressed glucagon and increased insulin release in this model. The potentiation of insulin release may result from phosphodiesterase inhibition. The inhibitory effects on hormone release are discussed in terms of diazepam's molecular conformation, which is similar to that of diphenylhydantoin, an inhibitor of both glucagon and insulin release in the isolated perfused rat pancreas. The possibility is also considered that the conformation of both compounds might be similar to the apparent active site of the hormone release inhibitor somatostatin.