J Korean Diabetes Assoc.
1999 Dec;23(6):768-776.
Differential Effects of Palmitate and Docosahexaenoic acid on ATP-sensitive K+ Channel Activity of
Pancreatic beta-cells
Abstract
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BACKGROUND: Elevated levels of free fatty acids markedly enhance insulin secretion. However, dietary polyunsaturated
fatty supplementation decrease insulin secretion. The effects of different type of fatty acids on cultured pancreatic
beta cell remain controversy. Therefore, the specific goal of this study was to confirm the effect of palmitate and
docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on pancreatic beta-cells. We measured ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channel activity by patch clamp
technique. METHOD: Pancreatic beta-cells were isolated from male Sprague-Dawley rats and cultured on the cover glass in
the culture media. KATP channel activity of pancreatic beta-cells were measured by the cell-attached mode of the patch
clamp technique. We treated 30 micrometer of palmitate and DHA dissolved with 3% albumin solution. RESULT: 30 micrometer of palmitate
inhibited KATP channel activity. Moreover, after additions of 5 and 10 mM glucose, additional and dose dependent
inhibitory effects were revealed. However, 30 micrometer of DHA did not have these additional inhibitory effect treated
with 5 and lOmM glucose. CONCLUSION: Palmitate as a saturated fatty acid inhibited activity of KATP channel and
increased inhibitory effect of glucose on this channel activity, however, DHA as a polyunsaturated fatty acid
attenuated inhibitory effect of glucose on this channel activity.