[Cholinergic regulation of insulin and glucagon secretion in healthy people and in patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes].

In 10 healthy subjects and in 10 patients with non-insulin-dependent, well controlled diabetes the following three tests were carried out in each persons: 1. the intravenous infusion of 25 g of L-arginine over 30 min, 2. the intravenous infusion of L-arginine plus prostigmin (0.01 mg per kg body weight), and 3. the intravenous infusion of L-arginine plus atropine (0.01 mg per kg body weight). Venous blood glucose, plasma insulin (IRI) and plasma glucagon (IRG) were determined on fasting and throughout the tests. The cholinergic stimulation increased, and the cholinergic blockade decreased the insulin and glucagon secretion during intravenous L-arginine infusion, both in healthy subjects and in diabetics, these effects being less marked (not significantly) in the latter group of test persons. On the other hand, neither prostigmin, nor atropine modified the behavior of blood glucose in comparison to the course of glycaemia observed during the infusion of L-arginine alone. These observations are an evidence of an integrative effect of the cholinergic system on the function of A- and B-cells of the pancreatic islets, which may be of importance for the proper utilization of food substrates.