In vivo stimulation of insulin release by succinic acid methyl esters.

Both the monomethyl and dimethyl esters of succinic acid, administered intravenously to fasted and anesthetized rats, caused a rapid increase in plasma insulin. A positive insulin secretory response to succinic acid monomethyl ester was also observed after intraperitoneal injection to fed and conscious rats. On a molar basis, stimulation of the insulin release, evoked by succinic acid esters, represented about twice that caused by D-glucose. It is speculated that succinic acid esters may be efficient insulin secretagogues even in those models of noninsulin-dependent diabetes characterized by a site-specific defect in the transport of D-glucose or in the early steps of its catabolism in the pancreatic B-cell.