Potentiation by methyl pyruvate of GLP-1 insulinotropic action in normal rats.

I Valverde, J Cancelas, M L Villanueva-Peñacarrillo, W J Malaisse

Index: Int. J. Mol. Med. 7(6) , 621-3, (2001)

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Abstract

Methyl pyruvate (MP) stimulates insulin release both in vivo and in vitro. The present study aims at investigating whether MP is also able to enhance the B-cell secretory response to glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1). In anaesthetized rats receiving a primed constant infusion of MP, the ester augmented plasma insulin concentration before GLP-1 injection and potentiated the insulinotropic action of the intestinal hormone. MP infusion also augmented plasma D-glucose concentration, whether in the absence or presence of GLP-1. A further rise in plasma D-glucose concentration was observed when the infusion of MP was halted, this coinciding with a fall in plasma insulin concentration. Whilst documenting that MP indeed enhances the B-cell secretory response to GLP-1, these findings do not suggest that MP is an appropriate tool for optimizing the hypoglycaemic action of the enteric hormone in the treatment of type-2 diabetes mellitus.