6533b859fe1ef96bd12b80a7

RESEARCH PRODUCT

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subject

0301 basic medicinemedicine.medical_specialtyGlucagonCatalysisInorganic Chemistry03 medical and health sciences0302 clinical medicineInternal medicineCannabinoid receptor type 1medicineCannabinoid receptor type 2Physical and Theoretical ChemistryMolecular BiologySpectroscopybiologyChemistryGlucokinaseOrganic ChemistryGlucose transporterGeneral MedicineComputer Science Applications030104 developmental biologyEndocrinology030220 oncology & carcinogenesisbiology.proteinGLUT2lipids (amino acids peptides and proteins)GLUT1Blood sugar regulation

description

Cannabinoids are known to influence hormone secretion of pancreatic islets via G protein-coupled cannabinoid receptor type 1 and 2 (CB1 and CB2). The present study was designed to further investigate the impact of cannabinoid receptors on the parameters involved in insulin secretion and blood glucose recognition. To this end, CB1 and CB2 receptor knockout mice (10–12 week old, both sexes) were characterised at basal state and compared to wild-type mice. The elimination of cannabinoid receptor signalling resulted in alterations of blood glucose concentrations, body weights and insulin levels. Changes were dependent on the deleted receptor type and on the sex. Analyses at mRNA and protein levels provided evidence for the impact of cannabinoid receptor deficiency on the glucose sensing apparatus in the pancreas. Both receptor knockout mouse lines showed decreased mRNA and protein amounts of glucose transporters Glut1 and Glut2, combined with alterations in immunostaining. In addition, pancreatic glucokinase expression was elevated and immunohistochemical labelling was modified in the pancreatic islets. Taken together, CB1 and CB2 signalling pathways seem to influence glucose sensing in β-cells by affecting glucose transporters and glucokinase. These alterations were more pronounced in CB2 knockout mice, resulting in higher blood glucose and lower plasma insulin levels.