Effects of the new phosphodiesterase inhibitor griseolic acid on insulin release in rat pancreatic islets.

A new cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor, griseolic acid (CAS 79030-08-3), in a dose-dependent manner increased insulin release and cyclic AMP level in rat pancreatic islets in the presence of 5.5 mmol/l glucose. Griseolic acid (0.26 mmol/l) or 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) (1 mmol/l) enhanced insulin release and cyclic AMP level both in the presence of 5.5 and 16.7 mmol/l glucose (no significant difference). In perifusion system, 45Ca++ efflux and insulin release showed a monophasic increase when the islets were exposed to 1.3 mmol/l griseolic acid or 1 mmol/l IBMX in the presence of 5.5 mmol/l glucose (no significant difference). In a cell-free system, griseolic acid had a stronger inhibitory effect on cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity than IBMX, has a stimulatory effect on insulin release through an increase of cyclic AMP by inhibiting phosphodiesterase in pancreatic islets, but it might not cross the plasma membrane easily.