“…It has been suggested that insulin-releasing fuels may initiate the secretory process by changing the B-cell metabolism (Grodsky et al, 1963;Coore & Randle, 1964;Ashcroft et al, 1973;Malaisse et al, 1979b). At least the non-metabolizable leucine analogue (-)-BCH and 4-methyl-2-oxopentanoate do not act by producing specific trigger metabolites (Christensen et al, 1971;Lenzen et al, 1982), but may operate by enhancing production of hydrogen (reducing equivalents) in the B-cell mitochondria (Holze & Panten, 1979;Hutton et al, 1979;Panten et al, 1980;Sener et al, 1981;Malaisse-Lagae etal., 1982). Two main routes exist along which intramitochondrial hydrogen production could elicit insulin secretion (Panten et al, 1980).…”