Anomeric specificity in the response of gut glucagon-like immunoreactive materials to glucose

An anomeric specificity of the glucose sensors of A cells and B cells of the pancreas has been reported. In this context the present authors investigated, using the canine intestinal loop prepared from the terminal portion of the ileum, how glucagon-like immunoreactive materials (GLI) of the gut would respond to glucose anomers in an attempt to explore a possible anomeric specificity of glucose-stimulated gut GLI secretion. As a result GLI was found to be more readily released into the blood stream after an intestinal alpha-glucose load than following beta-gluocse during a 15-minute observation period. It is thus suggested that gut GLI-secreting cells have glucose sensors similar to those of pancreatic A or B cells which are specific for the alpha-glucose anomer.