Selective Alteration of Secretin-Stimulated Cardiac Adenylate Cyclase Activity in Streptozotocin-Diabetic Rats

Secretin stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity in heart membranes was selectively altered in streptozotocin-diabetic adult male rats suffering from moderately severe diabetes, 40 days after i.v. streptozotocin administration (40 mg/kg body weight). The efficacy of secretin was reduced by 55% whilst its potency was unaffected. By contrast, the stimulation of adenylate cyclase by NaF, GTP, Gpp(NH)p, D,L-isoproterenol, and glucagon remained normal. The present data, together with the markedly reduced secretin response of cardiac adenylate cyclase in genetically obese (fa/fa) Zucker rats might indicate that hypoinsulinemia and insulin resistance both reduce the number of secretin receptors coupled to the adenylate cyclase system, an alteration whose contribution to diabetic cardiomyopathy remains to be determined.