Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of exogenously administered lactate and pyruvate on blood perfusion in endogenous and transplanted islets.
Methods: Anesthetized Wistar-Furth rats were given lactate or pyruvate intravenously, and regional blood perfusion was studied 3 or 30 minutes later with a microsphere technique. Separate rats received a 30-minute infusion of pyruvate or lactate into the portal vein before blood flow measurements. We also administered these substances to islet-implanted rats 4 weeks after transplantation and measured graft blood flow with laser Doppler flowmetry. The expression of monocarboxylate transporter 1 and lactate dehydrogenase A was analyzed.
Results: The expression of monocarboxylate transporter 1 and lactate dehydrogenase A was markedly up-regulated in transplanted as compared with endogenous islets. Administration of pyruvate, but not lactate, increased mesenteric blood flow after 3 minutes. Pyruvate decreased mesenteric blood flow after 30 minutes, whereas lactate decreased only islet blood flow. These responses were absent in transplanted animals. A continuous intraportal infusion of lactate or pyruvate increased selectively islet blood flow but did not affect blood perfusion of transplanted islets.
Conclusions: Lactate and pyruvate affect islet blood flow through effects mediated by interactions between the liver and the nervous system. Such a response can help adjust the release of islet hormones during excess substrate concentrations.