Release of glucagon-like peptide 1 immunoreactivity from the perfused rat pancreas.

A reliable radioimmunoassay for glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) was developed with a detection limit of 12 pmol/l, which enabled us to detect the subtle change in concentrations of this peptide in the perfusate from the perfused rat pancreas. With this RIA, GLP-1 immunoreactivity (GLP-1 IR) was found to be secreted synchronously with glucagon immunoreactivity upon arginine stimulation from the perfused rat pancreas. Gel chromatographic analysis showed the presence of GLP-1 IR in the pancreatic extract which is eluted at the same position as synthetic GLP-1 (1-37). Moreover HPLC analysis confirmed the presence of GLP-1 IR, which eluted at exactly the same position as synthetic GLP-1, in the perfusate from pancreas perfusion upon stimulation of arginine. These results suggest that the pancreas stores and secrets GLP-1 IR concomitantly with glucagon as one of the cleavage products of their common precursor.