Inhibition of glucagon release by serotonin in mouse pancreatic islets

In this work we have investigated the effect of serotonin on glucagon release in mouse pancreatic islets isolated by the collagenase technique. Incubation of the islets with serotonin (4 X10(-3)mol/l) was associated with an inhibition of glucagon output both in the basal medium (3.3 mmol/l glucose) and in the presence of arginine (10 mmol/l). The inhibitory effect of serotonin on basal glucagon release was also apparent at concentrations of 2 X10(-3) mol/l, 10(-3)mol/l and 5 X 10(-4) mol/l. Addition of 5-hydroxytrypophan (4 X10(-3) mol/l) to the incubation medium was without effect on basal glucagon output while it significantly reduced arginine-induced glucagon release. In contrast, tryptophan (4 X10(-3) mol/l) provoked glucagon secretion. As inferred from our previous human studies, the present data indicate that serotonin is able to inhibit glucagon secretion. These findings provide further support for the participation of a serotoninergic mechanism in the control of A-cell function.