Manganese action on pancreatic protein synthesis in normal and diabetic rats

The effects of manganese on [3H]phenylalanine incorporation into protein were studied in pancreatic acini prepared from normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. In the absence of added Ca2+ manganese exerted a biphasic effect on [3H]phenylalanine incorporation in both groups of acini. Significant stimulation occurred at 3 X 10(-5) M manganese. At higher concentrations manganese inhibited incorporation. The magnitude of stimulation was similar in all acini, whereas the magnitude of inhibition was greater in acini from normal rats. Addition of Ca2+ to incubation media abolished the stimulatory effect of manganese in normal rat acini and greatly enhanced it in diabetic rat acini, significant stimulation now occurring at 10(-5) M manganese. The magnitude of inhibition was again greater in acini from normal rats. Insulin in vivo partially reversed the diabetes-induced alterations in acinar cell responsiveness to manganese. The present findings suggest that streptozotocin-induced diabetes is associated with postreceptor alterations in the pancreatic acinar cells.