Dopamine D2-like Receptors Are Expressed in Pancreatic Beta Cells and Mediate Inhibition of Insulin Secretion

Abstract

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a critical role in neurological and psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, Parkinson disease, and drug addiction (1). Increasing evidence also shows implication of dopamine in various physiological functions such as cell proliferation (2), gastrointestinal protection (3), and inhibition of prolactin secretion (4). Effects of dopamine on insulin secretion in general and on pancreatic beta cell function in particular have been poorly studied. Insulin exocytosis from the beta cell is primarily controlled by metabolismsecretion coupling. First, glucose equilibrates across the plasma membrane and is phosphorylated by glucokinase, initiating glycolysis (5). Subsequently, mitochondrial metabolism generates ATP, which promotes the closure of ATP-sensitive potassium channels and, as a consequence, depolarization of the plasma membrane (6). This leads to calcium influx through voltage-gated calcium channels and a rise in cytosolic calcium, triggering insulin exocytosis (6, 7). Additional signals participating in the amplifying pathway (8) are necessary to reproduce the sustained secretion elicited by glucose. Insulin secretion evoked by glucose metabolism can be further modulated by parasympathetic and sympathetic neurotransmitters (9).Treatment with dopamine precursor L-dopa in humans suffering from Parkinson disease reduces insulin secretion upon oral glucose tolerance test (10). In rodents, a single injection with L-dopa results in the accumulation of dopamine in beta cells and inhibition of the insulin secretory responses (11,12). In isolated islets, analogues of dopamine inhibit glucose-stimulated insulin release (13), whereas one study reports potentiation of insulin secretion upon acute dopamine accumulation (14). Taken as a whole, these previous studies suggest that beta cells might be directly responsive to dopamine. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanisms implicated in beta cell responses to dopamine action. In particular, the present data demonstrate the presence of dopamine receptors in beta cells. Moreover, the inhibitory effects of dopamine are predominantly ascribed to activation of the D2-like receptor family members. MATERIALS AND METHODS INS-1E Cells and Pancreatic Islets-INS-1Ecells, used as a well differentiated beta cell clone (15), were cultured in a humidified atmosphere containing 5% CO 2 in a medium composed of RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10 mM Hepes, 5% (v/v) heat-inactivated fetal calf serum, 2 mM glutamine, 100 units/ml penicillin, 100 g/ml streptomycin, 1 mM sodium pyruvate, and 50 M 2-mercaptoethanol. For rodent islets, Wistar rats or BALB/c mice weighing 200 -250 g and 25-30 g, respectively, were obtained from in-house breeding (CMU-Zootechnie, Geneva, Switzerland). We followed the principles of laboratory animal care, and the study was approved by the responsible ethics committee. Pancreatic islets were isolated by collagenase digestion and handpicking from male Wistar rats or BALB/c mice as described previously (16). Isolated islets w...

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Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) activates AMPK through the inhibition of glutamate dehydrogenase in muscle and pancreatic ß-cells: A potential beneficial effect in the pre-diabetic state?

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