Influence of gastric inhibitory polypeptide antiserum on glucose-induced insulin secretion in rats

The action of gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) antiserum on glucose tolerance and insulin secretion after an intraduodenal glucose load (600 mg/kg) was examined in anesthetized rats. In control experiments the insulin secretion was nearly doubled when glucose was administered intraduodenally, as compared to an iv glucose load to simulate the blood glucose curve after the intraduodenal glucose administration. After injection of GIP antiserum, the glucose curve resulting from the intraduodenal glucose load was slightly elevated and the insulin response was significantly reduced. No free GIP could be measured in the plasma of antibody-treated rats. However, the GIP antiserum did not offset the incretin effect of the intraduodenal glucose load completely. In control experiments the same amount of GIP antibody completely blocked the insulinotropic effect of exogenous porcine GIP (0.6 microgram/kg . h). In nonanesthetized rats serial oral glucose tolerance tests were performed for 14 days after injection of the GIP antiserum. Despite the blockage of endogenous GIP, the glucose tolerance did not change significantly in the antibody-treated group of rats as compared to a control group. These data indicate that GIP is not the exclusive incretin and that additional gut factors with insulinotropic activity exist.