Effects of alloxan on the islets of Langerhans: inhibition of leucine metabolism and insulin secretion.

The action of alloxan on the metabolism of the islets of Langerhans was studied in vitro. Isolated mouse islets were exposed to the drug at 4 degrees C to prevent its decomposition. Islet uptake of leucine was subsequently estimated at 37 degrees C, and was found not to be affected by the drug. However, islet leucine oxidation was strongly inhibited by the preceding alloxan exposure. The islets were protected against this inhibition by an incubation at a high glucose concentration prior to alloxan exposure. In contrast, a high concentration of leucine failed to provide full protection of either islet leucine oxidation or islet glucose oxidation. Furthermore, it was shown that alloxan impeded islet insulin response to both leucine and glucose. In addition, the potentiation of insulin release by theophylline was abolished after alloxan treatment of the islets. The results reinforce the hypothesis that the B-cytotoxicity of alloxan reflects an interaction with intracellular sites involved in the oxidative metabolism of the B-cell, and that these sites may be protected against the action of the drug by some metabolite of glucose.