Phorbol ester stimulation of pancreatic β‐cell replication, polyamine content and insulin secretion

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Abstract
Long‐term effects of the protein kinase C activating phorbol ester, TPA, on pancreatic β‐cell proliferation and insulin production were investigated It was found that β‐cell replication and long‐term insulin secretion were enhanced in TPA‐treated islets. This was not accompanied by a corresponding increase in (pro)insulin biosynthesis, presumably contributing to the lowered islet insulin content. TPA also increased islet polyamine content but when this increase was prevented by blocking polyamine synthesis, DNA replication and insulin secretion remained elevated. These findings indicate that TPA stimulates β‐cell replication and insulin secretion and suggest a stimulatory role for protein kinase C, but not for polyamines, in these processes.

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