The direct effects of saccharin sodium, cyclamate sodium and stevioside on insulin and glucagon secretion were investigated using the isolated perfused rat pancreas. Following preperfusion with 2.8 mM glucose and respective sweeteners (cyclamate sodium: 440 μM, saccharin sodium: 50 μM, stevioside: 15 μM) for 20 min, L-arginine hydrochloride (to give a final concentration of 19.2 mM) was introduced through a side arm for the next 30 min. The addition of arginine to the perfusate of 2.8 mM glucose without any sweeteners caused a biphasic increase in the insulin and glucagon concentrations. The perfusion of 2.8 mM glucose plus cyclamate sodium revealed no significant change in insulin and glucagon secretion as compared to glucose alone.
Saccharin sodium and stevioside produced a slight increase in the insulin and a slight decrease in the glucagon secretion induced by arginine, although the changes were not significant, as compared to those with glucose alone. These resultssuggest that cyclamate sodium, saccharin sodium and stevioside have no direct action on pancreatic A and B cells.
