In order to investigate molecules related to insulin secretion, we conducted a practical method to imitate human insulin secretion through rats via organ baths of pancreatic preparations. Our previous study showed that insulin secretion from rat pancreas tissue was stimulated by glucagon-like peptide-1 and glimepiride. 1,5-anhydro-D-glucitol (1,5-AG) is a glucose analog and exists in humans. This study aims to assess the effects of short-term 1,5-AG stimulation of insulin secretion in rat pancreases to better understand the effects in humans. Rat pancreases were assigned to eight groups: two glucose concentrations (100 and 400 mg/dl) and pairs of varying 1,5-AG concentrations (0, 0.1, 1, and 10 mM). There was a significant increase in insulin outflow from low to high glucose concentrations. However, there was no significant enhancement of insulin secretion between the four groups with low and high 1,5-AG concentrations. This suggests that short-term exposure to 1,5-AG has no effect on insulin secretion in rat pancreas tissues.
　To justify whether the methods and techniques were useful as an experimental system, we isolated pancreases from another rodent species, the mouse, and similarly measured insulin outflow. In mouse pancreas preparations, stimulating with 400 mg/dl glucose significantly increased insulin outflow. Therefore, organ baths of isolated mouse pancreases are also considerably effective for assessing effects of novel molecules and/or therapeutics on insulin secretion.