Maternal Low-Protein Diet During Nursing Leads to Glucose-Insulin Dyshomeostasis and Pancreatic-Islet Dysfunction by Disrupting Glucocorticoid Responsiveness in Male Rats.

Both perinatal malnutrition and elevated glucocorticoids are pivotal triggers of the growing global pandemic of metabolic diseases. Here, we studied the effects of metabolic stress responsiveness on glucose-insulin homeostasis and pancreatic-islet function in male Wistar offspring whose mothers underwent protein restriction during lactation. During the first two weeks after delivery, lactating dams were fed a low-protein (4% protein, LP group) or normal-protein diet (22.

Intra-islet α-cell Gs signaling promotes glucagon release.

Glucagon, a hormone released from pancreatic α-cells, is critical for maintaining euglycemia and plays a key role in the pathophysiology of diabetes. To stimulate the development of new classes of therapeutic agents targeting glucagon release, key α-cell signaling pathways that regulate glucagon secretion need to be identified. Here, we focused on the potential importance of α-cell G signaling on modulating α-cell function.