Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Objective
It has been thought that the depletion of insulin is responsible for the catabolic consequences of diabetes; however, evidence suggests that glucagon also plays a role in diabetes pathogenesis. Glucagon suppression by glucagon receptor (Gcgr) gene deletion, glucagon immunoneutralization, or Gcgr antagonist can reverse or prevent type 1 diabetes in rodents suggesting that dysregulated glucagon is also required for development of diabetic symptoms. However, the models used in these studies were rendered diabetic by chemical- or immune-mediated ?-cell destruction, in which insulin depletion is incomplete. Therefore, it is unclear whether glucagon suppression could overcome the consequence of the complete lack of insulin.Methods
To directly test this we characterized mice that lack the Gcgr and both insulin genes (GcgrKO/InsKO).Results
In both P1 pups and mice that were kept alive to young adulthood using insulin therapy, blood glucose and plasma ketones were modestly normalized; however, mice survived for only up to 6 days, similar to GcgrHet/InsKO controls. In addition, Gcgr gene deletion was unable to normalize plasma leptin levels, triglycerides, fatty acids, or hepatic cholesterol accumulation compared to GcgrHet/InsKO controls.Conclusion
Therefore, the metabolic manifestations associated with a complete lack of insulin cannot be overcome by glucagon receptor gene inactivation.
SUBMITTER: Neumann UH
PROVIDER: S-EPMC5021664 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Aug
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Neumann Ursula H UH Ho Jessica S S JSS Mojibian Majid M Covey Scott D SD Charron Maureen J MJ Kieffer Timothy J TJ
Molecular metabolism 20160530 8
<h4>Objective</h4>It has been thought that the depletion of insulin is responsible for the catabolic consequences of diabetes; however, evidence suggests that glucagon also plays a role in diabetes pathogenesis. Glucagon suppression by glucagon receptor (Gcgr) gene deletion, glucagon immunoneutralization, or Gcgr antagonist can reverse or prevent type 1 diabetes in rodents suggesting that dysregulated glucagon is also required for development of diabetic symptoms. However, the models used in the ...[more]