Islet amyloid polypeptide inhibits insulin secretion in conscious rats

To investigate the effect of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP, amylin) exposure on insulin secretion in vivo, the plasma glucose level of conscious rats was clamped at 11.1 mmol/l (hyperglycemic clamp) during the last 2 h of a 24-h infusion study. Group parameters were A, 24-h saline; B and C, 22-h saline followed by 2-h IAPP (B, 8.5 pmol/min; C, 85 pmol/min), and D, 24-h IAPP (85 pmol/min). Induced hyperglycemia increased plasma insulin concentration by 426 +/- 34 pmol/l in control rats (group A). This effect on plasma insulin was reduced by 31% and 53% during short-term IAPP infusion (group B, 8.5 pmol/min, 294 +/- 41 pmol/l; C, 85 pmol/min, 202 +/- 25 pmol/l; short-term effect, P < 0.0001), whereas insulin levels tended to increase after 24 h of continuous IAPP exposure (group D, 682 +/- 120 pmol/l; P < 0.05 vs. group A). Glucose infusion rate required to maintain constant hyperglycemia fell dose dependently during short-term but not during long-term IAPP infusion (mumol.kg-1.min-1: group A, 203 +/- 11; B, 154 +/- 7; C, 119 +/- 7; D, 212 +/- 9; short-term effect, P < 0.0001). In parallel, muscle glycogen content was dose dependently reduced by short-term IAPP exposure. We conclude that IAPP inhibits glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and decreases muscle glycogen storage in conscious rats in vivo.