Glucagon and insulin secretion during acid-base alterations.

Previously, we reported that change from the normal pH of 7.4 surrounding the islet cells to 7.8 results in a decreased B-cell response to 16.6 mM glucose, 10 mM arginine or 400 micrograms/ml tolbutamide. In the present report we studied the effect of modifications in the extracellular pH on glucose- and arginine-induced glucagon and insulin secretion by the perfused rat pancreas. It was found that at pH 7.8, arginine-induced glucagon secretion was significantly greater than at pH 7.4. On the other hand, the switch from pH 7.4 to 7.8 in a pancreas already stimulated by either low glucose or arginine, produced fast and transient glucagon release. Sequential extracellular pH changes from 7.4 to 7.8 and back to 7.4 in the presence of 8.3 mM glucose and a 5 mM arginine stimulus demonstrated that A- and B-cells rapidly modify their secretion in response to extracellular alkalosis in opposite directions. While glucagon output was enhanced (mean secretory rates at pH 7.4, 0.692 +/- 0.042 ng/min and 0.948 +/- 0.57 at pH 7.8), insulin secretion was clearly reduced (72.6 +/- 6.2 ng/min and 35.7 +/- 2.8 ng/min at pH 7.4 and 7.8, respectively). The above observations, together with our previously reported data, indicate that extracellular pH plays an important role in the regulation of glucagon and insulin release. Particularly, extracellular alkalosis enhances A-cell response to 2.3 mM glucose and 5 mM arginine while partially inhibiting B-cell secretion in the perfused rat pancreas.