The effect of glucagon like peptide-1 on pancreatic islet beta cell function

Objective: To studay the effects of Glucagon-like peptide-1 on pancreatic islet beta cell function. Methods: Twenty male wistar rats were randomly divided into control group (normal sodium) and experimental group [GLP-1 (7-36) NH2], each group containing ten rats. Tail blood glucose and insulin were assayed before infusion of normal sodium or GLP-1 (7-36) NH2 and at 5 minute, 10 minute after infusion. Insulin mRNA expression intensity was assessed by semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: Blood glucose and insulin were no significant difference before intravenation between the control and the experiment groups (P0.05); Concentrations of blood glucose at 5 minute and 10 minute after intravenation were significantly decreased; while concentration of insulin at 5 minute was significantly increased in the experiment group compared with the control one (P0.05); There was no significant difference at 10 minute in the level of insulin between the control and the experiment (P0.05). The level of insulin mRNA was significantly higher in the experiment than that of the control(P0.05). Conclusion: Intravenous injection of GLP-1 (7-36)NH2 can promote insulin gene transcription, increase pancrea's insulin mRNA levels, stimulate insulin biosynthesis and secretion, increase the level of insulin, decrease blood glucose and protect the function of pancreatic islet beta cell. [