1995 Volume 38 Issue 5 Pages 353-358
Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) is belived to be a biologically active peptide co-secreted with insulin by pancreatic B-cells. Many investigators have focused on the relation between this putative peptde and the pathophysiology of NIDDM. In this study, fasting plasma IAPP concentrations and responses to injection of 10 g glucose and 1 mg glucagon (GG test) were measured in NIDDM and borderline glucose intolerance (BDR), and compared with those of C-peptide (CPR) to assess the characteristics of IAPP secretion in NIDDM.
The fasting IAPP/CPR molar ratio was low in NIDDM patients, especially in patientsin the subgroup with a high fasting CPR level and those treated with glibenclamide. This suggests hypo-secretion of IAPP relative to insulin in NIDDM patients whose pancreatic B-cells are chronically stimulated. The GG test revealed that the reserve capacity of pancreatic B-cells to secrete IAPP was reduced more than their reserve capacity to secrete insulin, even in the stage. These results suggest the existence of IAPP hypo-secretion relative to insulin in BDR and NIDDM patients, and this may be related to the development of NIDDM.
