D-glucose Stimulates the Na+/K+ Pump in Mouse Pancreatic Islet Cells

To determine the effect of D-glucose on the beta-cell Na+/K+ pump, 86Rb+ influx was studied in isolated, -cell-rich islets of Umeå-ob/ob mice in the absence or presence of 1mM ouabain. D-glucose (20mM) stimulated the ouabain-sensitive portion of 86Rb+ influx by 65%, whereas the ouabain-resistant portion was inhibited by 48%. The Na+/K+ ATPase activity in homogenates of islets of Umeå-ob/ob mice or normal mice was determined to search for direct effects of D-glucose. Thus, ouabain-sensitive ATP hydrolysis in islet homogenates was measured in the presence of different D-glucose concentrations. No effect of D-glucose (3-20mM) was observed in either ob/ob or normal islets at the optimal Na+/K+ ratio for the enzyme (135mM Na+ and 20mM K+). Neither D-glucose (3-20mM) nor L-glucose or 3-O-methyl-D-glucose (20mM) affected the enzyme activity at a high Na+/K+ ratio (175 mM Na+ and 0.7 mM K+). Diphenylhydantoin (150 microM) decreased the enzyme activity at optimal Na+/K+ ratio, whereas 50 microM of the drug had no effect. The results suggest that D-glucose induces a net stimulation the Na+/K+ pump of beta-cells in intact islets and that D-glucose does not exert any direct effect on the Na+/K+ ATPase activity.