THE NATURE OF THE INTERACTION OF AMINES WITH THE PANCREATIC BETA CELL TO INFLUENCE INSULIN SECRETION

¹ Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina

Studies were carried out with an in vitro golden hamster pancreas system to determine if amines in general can inhibit insulin release. It was found that these compounds must have both a ring structure and a charged amine group to inhibit insulin secretion. Simple amines (butylamine), polyamines (putrescine) and amino sugars (glucosamine) did not alter this process. -Phenylethylamine, benzylamine, N-methylbenzylamine, histamine and cyclohexylamine inhibited insulin secretion. Studies with phentolamine utilizing normal hamster pancreas and pancreas from hamsters depleted of catecholamines by pretreatment with reserpine were also carried out. These studies indicate that amines and catecholamines which inhibit insulin release do so by both an indirect action (release of endogenous pancreatic norepinephrine) and a direct effect of the agents themselves on the beta cell. The direct effect of catecholamines and histamine on inhibiting insulin release can be blocked by phentolamine. In contrast, the direct effect of the other amines, such as -phenylethylamine and cyclohexylamine are not altered by phentolamine.