Abstract
The immediate effect of corticosterone upon insulin secretion rates estimated by three
different techniques (perfusion of isolated rat pancreas and perfusion or incubation
of isolated islets of Langerhans) was studied for one hour. Three corticosterone concentrations
were used: 0.02, 0.2 or 20 mg/1.
With 4.2 mmol/l glucose, corticosterone did not affect insulin secretion, whereas,
with a stimulating glucose concentration (16.7 mmol/l), insulin secretion was inhibited
by the three corticosterone concentrations tested during incubation experiments, and
by only the two physiological ones (0.02 and 0.2 mg/1) during islets perfusion and
pancreas perfusion experiments. Moreover the inhibitory effect appeared more rapid
with perfuse islets than perfused pancreas, where only the second insulin secretory
phase was disturbed.
Key words
Islets of Langerhans - Pancreas Perfusion - Insulin Secretion - Corticosterone
