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Resveratrol inhibits insulin secretion from rat pancreatic islets

Tomasz Szkudelski1

  • 1Department of Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, August Cieszkowski University of Agriculture, 60-637 Wolynska 35, Poznan, Poland. tszkudel@jay.au.poznan.pl

European Journal of Pharmacology
|October 31, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Resveratrol inhibits insulin secretion from pancreatic islets in a reversible manner. This compound affects glucose-induced insulin release, with effects modulated by protein kinase C activation.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Resveratrol, a natural phytoalexin, exhibits cardioprotective, anticancer, and antioxidant properties.
  • Recent studies suggest resveratrol may alleviate diabetic complications.
  • The impact of resveratrol on pancreatic islet endocrine function remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of resveratrol on insulin secretion from isolated rat pancreatic islets.
  • To determine the concentration-dependent effects of resveratrol on glucose-stimulated insulin release.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms underlying resveratrol's influence on insulin secretion.

Main Methods:

  • Incubation of freshly isolated rat pancreatic islets with varying concentrations of resveratrol.
  • Stimulation of insulin release using glucose, leucine with glutamine, and forskolin.
  • Assessment of insulin secretion in the presence of glibenclamide and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA).
  • Perifusion studies to analyze the time course of resveratrol's effect.

Main Results:

  • Resveratrol significantly inhibited glucose-induced insulin release in a concentration-dependent manner.
  • The inhibitory effect was reversible upon removal of resveratrol.
  • Resveratrol's inhibition was not restored by other secretagogues, suggesting mechanisms beyond glucose transport or glycolysis.
  • Resveratrol reduced glucose-induced insulin release even in the presence of glibenclamide and forskolin.
  • Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) abolished the inhibitory effect of low resveratrol concentrations but not the highest tested concentration.

Conclusions:

  • Resveratrol exerts a clear, reversible inhibitory effect on insulin secretion from pancreatic islets.
  • The mechanism of inhibition involves pathways sensitive to protein kinase C activation.
  • These findings highlight a potential concern regarding resveratrol supplementation in diabetic individuals, impacting pancreatic islet function.

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