miR-124a expression contributes to the monophasic pattern of insulin secretion in islets from pregnant rats submitted to a low-protein diet

Purpose To evaluate the role of miR-124a in the regulation of genes involved in insulin exocytosis and its effects on the kinetics of insulin secretion in pancreatic islets from pregnant rats submitted to a low-protein diet. Methods Adult control non-pregnant (CNP) and control pregnant (CP) rats were fed a normal protein diet (17%), whereas low-protein non-pregnant (LPNP) and low-protein pregnant (LPP) rats were fed a low-protein diet (6%) from days 1 to 15 of pregnancy. Kinetics of the glucose-induced insulin release and measurement of [Ca 2+ ] i in pancreatic islets were assessed by standard protocols. The miR-124a expression and gene transcriptions from pancreatic islets were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results In islets from LPP rats, the first phase of insulin release was abrogated. The AUC [Ca 2+ ] i from the LPP group was lower compared with the other groups. miR-124a expression was reduced by a low-protein diet. SNAP-25 mRNA, protein expression, and Rab3A protein content were lower in the LPP rats than in CP rats. Syntaxin 1A and Kir6.2 mRNA levels were decreased in islets from low-protein rats compared with control rats, whereas their protein content was reduced in islets from pregnant rats. Conclusions Loss of biphasic insulin secretion in islets from LPP rats appears to have resulted from reduced [Ca 2+ ] i due, at least in part, to Kir6.2 underexpression and from the changes in exocytotic elements that are influenced either directly or indirectly by miR-124a.